Robert E. Fairbairn Sr.

Robert E. Fairbairn, Sr. was born in Oklahoma City on July 30, 1922. He graduated from Classen High School in the Class of 1940. Bob then served in the US Army Air Corps/Air Force from September 17, 1940 to October 9, 1945. He was briefly recalled during the Korean War. Bob served with the 460th Bomber Group of the Fifteenth Air Force and deployed to southern Italy in 1944, flying strategic missions over Europe. He was shot down twice, escaping back to Allied territory the first time and captured the second time in northern Italy in the Fall of 1944. He was imprisoned first at Stalag Luft 3 Silesia Bavaria and then at Nuremberg Langwasser 4911. He was liberated in Spring, 1945. Following the war, Bob worked as an accountant in the Financial Management Division of NASA-Langley, retiring in 1972. He returned to Oklahoma in 1972 where he lived until his death following a very brief illness on February 24 at Mercy Hospital. He was a member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Bob is the son of Boyce Alexander Fairbairn of Oklahoma City (deceased) and Dorothy Marie Meade of Oklahoma City (deceased). Bob married Vivian Virginia Fox in 1951 with whom he had two sons; they later divorced. He is survived by his brother, Jack E. Fairbairn of Oklahoma City, his sons Robert E. Fairbairn, Jr. of Williamsburg, VA and Donald B. Fairbairn of Darnestown, Maryland; five grandchildren, Robert Fairbairn of Falls Church, VA, Joanna Beyer of Oak Harbor, WA, Catherine Hanley of Walkersville, MD, Stephanie Ycaza of Richmond, VA, and Kevin Fairbairn of Boston, MA; three great-grandchildren, Eva Beyer and Marian Beyer of Oak Harbor, WA and Grant Hanley of Walkersville, MD. His sister, Bonnie J. Fairbairn and brother, William Fairbairn preceded him in death.

Viewing will be 9am to 8pm, Thursday, at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 2pm, Friday, March 1, 2013, at Memorial Park Historic Cemetery Chapel.