WILLIAM G. ROBB

1952 - 2015

WILLIAM G. ROBB - CAPE CORAL, Fla. - Col. William Gallagher Robb (Ret.), known as Bill(y) and Scotty, died peacefully on June 27, 2015, after a long, hardfought battle with cancer. Bill was born in Hardwick, Vt., to the late William M. and Nora Gallagher Robb. In November of 1952, Bill entered the Aviation Cadet Program in the United States Air Force. He flew valiantly as a command pilot in the Korean and Vietnam Wars for the Air Force and Air America. Bill received many decorations and awards including the Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and many others. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courage as Aircraft Commander of a C-130 during an emergency ammunition resupply mission of a besieged airfield at Khe Sanh, Vietnam. He was awarded a second Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions at the Hue Phu Bai Airfield, where he piloted a C-130 to evacuate 83 wounded personnel to safety while under heavy enemy fire. After finishing his flying career, he held engineering positions at Air Force bases around the world, retiring as senior Colonel in the Air Force. His final assignment was Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Engineering and Services, Headquarters Logistic Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. After retirement, he spent many summers with friends and family at Caspian Lake in Greensboro, Vt. He also resided in Cape Coral, Fla., where he enjoyed the fellowship of his church, Saint Katherine Drexel Catholic. He was also very active in the Distinguished Flying Cross Society. He is survived by his three daughters and their husbands, Gayle and Dick Booth of Sumter, S.C., Mary and Joe Weasel of Columbus, Ohio, and Jayne and Rob Connelly of Dayton, Ohio; brother, John Robb and wife, Connie, of Venice, Fla.; two sisters, Barbara Whalen of Burlington, Vt., and Clare Cowell and husband, Tom, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; eight grandchildren, Jayne Booth Shiver, Richard Booth, Megan Weasel, Morgan Weasel, Griffin Weasel, Elizabeth Connelly, Anne Connelly, and Mary Connelly; and a special friend, Annette Rowell Robb. He is also survived by the children of Marion Faye Pilcher Robb, deceased. Graveside funeral services and Military Honors will be held at the Fairview Cemetery, Hardwick, Vt., at 1 p.m., on July 31, 2015. Arrangements are in the care of des Groseilliers Funeral Home, Church Street, Hardwick. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Saint Katherine Drexel Catholic Church, 1922 SW 20th Ave., Cape Coral, FL 33991.