Lowery Key Bounds

Lt. Colonel (retired) Lowery Key Bounds, 95, passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at his home in Ocean Springs, MS.

Lt. Col. Bounds was a native of Bailey, MS and a graduate of East Mississippi Junior College and Mississippi State University. After college he worked as a draftsman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before joining the United States Air Force in 1954 where he enjoyed a distinguished career as a pilot for 27 years. During his career, he flew the F-84, C-119, C-130 and KC-135. He flew 84 combat missions during the Vietnam War, served one tour in Europe and three tours in Southeast Asia. His decorations included Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air and Space Commendation Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Vietnam Service Medal, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Air and Space Longevity Service Award with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Significant achievements included flying support missions at the Nevada Atomic Test Site and witnessing several atomic blasts; setting a coast to coast speed record for military transport flying the C-130; working with the Royal Air Force at RAF Waddington and performing a record-setting C-130 air-drop of 32,000 pounds; flying support for the U-2 mission when Gary Powers was shot down over Russia and landing a C-130 on a frozen bay off the island of Spitzbergen in Norway 500 miles inside the Artic Circle while searching for the Discoverer II spy satellite. This mission was the genesis of the movie Ice Station Zebra.

Lt. Col. Bounds retired from the Air Force in July 1978 and operated Bounds Mortgage Service in Fort Worth, Texas for 28 years. His favorite pastimes were golf, tennis, entertaining and family reunions at his father’s farm in Bailey.

Lt. Col. Bounds was preceded in death by his parents, W.C and Blanche Dean Bounds; his siblings Bonnie Jean Craig, Waldo C. Bounds, George W. Bounds, Nina B. Miller, Eleanor Morris, Clarence Dean Bounds, Sr., Mary Dora Golding and his son, Lowery Key Bounds, Jr.

His survivors include his son Craig C. Bounds (Mary Ann), grandchildren Dr. Sarah Robichaux (Benjamin), Craig C. Bounds, II (Brooke); great-grandchildren Audrey, Evelyn, Luke, and Estelle Robichaux, Carson, Ava and Camille Bounds; and many cherished nieces, nephews and friends.

A visitation will be held on May 27, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. until the 12:00 p.m. Memorial Service is held  at The Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd, Biloxi 39532 in West Jackson County.   Interment, with full military honors being rendered will be follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. 

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd. in West Jackson County is proudly serving the Bounds family. Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.riemannfamily.com