Robert Raynor Garey

Robert was born on January 24, 1924 and passed away on Friday, September 9, 2016. Robert was a resident of Florence, South Carolina at the time of her passing. He graduated from New Hanover High School in 1942. the school year that Pearl Harbor was bombed and the United States declared war against Japan and Germany. Bob enlisted in the Army Air Corps that school year when he reached 18 years old. A year later he graduated from Army Air Corps Flight School with a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, with a pair of silver wings, and classification as a Fighter Pilot. Months of flight training continued until arriving in Hawaii and assignment to the 45th Fighter Squadron preparing to ship out to a combat area. The squadron shipped to Iwo Jima and arrived in the midst of the Marine's month-long battle for the island. Once the island was secure and their planes brought in, they began their combat role. The squadron flew P-51 Mustangs primarily on missions escorting B-29s during their bombing raids over mainland Japan, and strafing air fields and other installations across Japan. She was married to Alice Lee Harvie Garey. A funeral service will be held at St. John's Church, 252 S. Dargan Street, Florence, South Carolina, on Monday, September 12, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive guests before the service at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Interment with military honors will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 100 Cherokee Road, Florence, South Carolina, under the direction of Waters-Powell Funeral Home. Funeral Service Monday, Sep 12, 2016 3:00 PM St. John's Church 252 S. Dargan Street Florence, South Carolina 29501 Google Maps The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service at St. John's Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's Church at the address listed above, or a charity of one's choice.