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FUNERAL HOME

Rose-Neath Funeral Home - Bossier City

2201 Airline Drive

Bossier City, Louisiana

Robert Fortune Obituary

Retired Captain Robert "Bob" Lee Fortune, Sr.

February 28, 1944

May 4, 2015

Bossier City, LA - On May 4, 2015, Bob, surrounded by his loving family and friends, passed away after a courageous seven-year battle with prostate cancer.

He was born on February 28, 1944 in Ancon, Canal Zone. Bob moved to Bossier City in 1985 after being transferred to the 2nd Combat Support Group - Strategic Air Command, Barksdale Air Force Base from which he retired in 1987. He was a husband, "Dad", son, brother, ball-player, inventor, sports card collector, father-figure, and friend to many. Bob was also a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bossier City.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, John B. & Dora Morato Fortune; sisters Linda DeLafuente' and Bertha Martin. He is survived by his wife of forty-nine years, Shirley; children Robert L. Fortune, Jr. and wife Jennifer of Bossier City, Louisiana; Wesley T. Fortune and wife Kara of Canal Winchester, Ohio; Tracie Fortune Omlie and husband Patrick of Cypress, Texas; Jeffrey T. Fortune and wife Callie of Allen, Texas; and Jodi Lynn Fortune of Bossier City, Louisiana; brother John B. Fortune, Jr. and his wife Charlotte of Houston, Texas; and sister Betty Brun of Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii.

Bob was "Grandpa" to Alli Margaret Ann, Abbigail, Walker, and Addison Fortune of Canal Winchester, Ohio; Kate and Matthew Fortune of Bossier City; Louisiana; Cailee and Emily Omlie of Cypress, Texas; and Knox and Phoebe Fortune of Allen, Texas.

Bob is a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he earned and was decorated with the Air Force ("AF") Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and one Oak Leaf Cluster, AF Good Conduct Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal, AF Overseas Short Tour ribbon, AF Overseas Long Tour ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, AF Longevity Service Award ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Non-Commissioned Officer's Professional Military Education Graduate ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship ribbon, AF Training ribbon, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Active Pallbearers will be Robert L. Fortune, Jr., Wesley T. Fortune, Jeffrey T. Fortune, Ronald Lehmann, Tommy Beard, and Jimmy Wilcher. Honorary Pallbearers will be John B. Fortune, Jr., Marty Crowder, Damon Doss, Larry Lehmann, Jarvis Lehmann, David Lehmann and Brit Ging.

The family will have visitation on Thursday from 6 - 8 p.m. at Kilpatrick's Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City; Services for Bob will be held this Friday at 2 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2565 Airline Drive with Reverend Sig Kunz officiating. Interment will follow at Rose-Neath Cemetery in Bossier City.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Building Fund or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by visiting www.stjude.org

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Shreveport Times from May 6 to May 8, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Robert Fortune

18 Entries

James Alandydy

May 17, 2015

In 1981 I was 10 years old when my father was re-assigned to Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH. We lived on Fir Ct together with the Fortune Family who became a second family for me, and Mr. Fortune became one of the most impactful men I would ever meet in my life. He was the strongest, toughest man I would ever know - and at the same time the most loving and caring man you could imagine. He has been and will always be a role model to me, someone I think of often. Mr. Fortune was a man of the greatest honor and integrity. In the few years I spent with him, in awe of him - he affected the rest of my life to come, and he will continue to do so. I came to know him most through his son Robert Jr, who will forever be my friend and brother. I've never had a better friend in my life and I never will. Mr. Fortune is role model for me to strive to as a man, a husband to my wife, and a father to my daughters. God bless you Sir. I love you and will always remember you all the years of my life. To the entire Fortune family - you will remain in my thoughts, and my mother and sister pass on love and prayers to you all.

May 9, 2015

There is no intent to impose on this time in your family's grief. When Mr. Fortune's obit was sent to me I gasped. He greatly favors my older brother AF COL(Ret) Bill Fortune, as well as my dad (Ray Fortune). As I read the tender comments, your Mr. Fortune also resembles the qualities of the men in my family. Will you kindly accept the genuine sympathy expressed by a total stranger? Dorothy Ray Fortune Hayner (MSG)Ret, US Army. ..another blessed MisFortune

Millie Hare Galbreath

May 8, 2015

Love and prayers at this most difficult of times. He was a classic guy in the early 60's on Ft. Kobbe.

Wendi Schumaker

May 7, 2015

I never had the privilege of meet Mr. Fortune., but I have the honor of knowing his daughter. Tracy take comfort in knowing you now have a special guardian angel to watch over you and the girls. Your father is at peace. Robert and I will continue to pray for you and your family. God is faithful

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Nelda Click

May 7, 2015

Wes, so sorry to hear about your Dad. Will keep you in my prayers.

Barton & Marcia Felton

May 7, 2015

Shirley and Family,
Please accept our sincere sympathy. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Sending our love.

McLaurin

May 7, 2015

We are so sorry for your loss. May God keep fast hold of you with his right hand during this difficult time.

james and deborah smolka

May 6, 2015

I'm a 69 year old man who is sobbing with greif over the loss of a man who I admired enormously from the first time I met him as a 13 year old playing baseball in ft kobbe, canal zone. I left ft kobbe at 16 and throughout my entire life I bragged about being a friend of "bobby" fortune...a man of great inner strength and integrity. "bobby" was the "fonze" of my lifetime. I feel oh so fortunate to have surprised "bobby" thanksgiving eve, 2012...just showed up at his door, after 51 years, with my wife of 23 years, who marveled at my stories about "bobby"! she remarked, after we left, that he seemed every bit as "cool" as I had described him to be. I guess one could say I had a "man crush" on "bobby". Our hearts go out to Shirley and the family. With deepest respect, james and deborah Smolka.

Jill Hall Taylor

May 6, 2015

Thoughts and prayers are with you all. I loved Bobby.

Deborah Parsley

May 6, 2015

Sorry for your familys loss Wes. Sending prayers to your family. You are in my prayers

May 6, 2015

Sorry for the families loss, I will always remember him and I traveling to Washington D.C together in a van we were driving. It was a most enjoyable trip spent with a true gentleman. Bob you will be missed by many.

Cyndie Reid

May 6, 2015

Jeff so sorry about your dad! You and your family are in our prayers and thoughts. Chuck and Cyndie Reid

For the Commanders, Carroll R. Michaud

May 6, 2015

The Final Salute

Brothers in Arms, Military men and women down through the centuries, have traditionally exchanged Hand Salutes as a sign of recognition and as a way to render courtesy and respect one to another.

This Hand Salute is the last that we shall render to Robert Lee (Bob) Fortune, Sr. our Brother-in-Arms. To his family it symbolizes the love and respect that we have for Bob. And to Bob it is rendered as a symbol of honor and gratitude to thank him for the devoted and selfless service he rendered to his country during the Vietnam War while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Bob, we commend you for your honorable service. You are a true patriot, who served with honor and distinction. You upheld the finest qualities of an American patriot warrior: courage, commitment, generosity, sacrifice, love and devotion to family and country. You were a true friend. We bid you a sad farewell. You will be dearly missed from among our ranks. Be at Ease. Rest in Peace.

On behalf of the 1,061 military veteran Legionnaires of Lowe-McFarlane Post 14 of the American Legion and the 233 veterans of VFW Post 2238 in Shreveport, Louisiana, we extend our sympathies and our condolences to Bob's family and loved ones.

Stephen J. Lavery, Commander, American Legion Post 14
5315 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport, LA 71109

James Mazariz, Commander, VFW Post 2238
1245 Gary Street, Shreveport, LA 71101

Jim & Deb Desjean

May 6, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. We fondly recall our time together at Pease AFB. Bob was a good man and will be remembered for his kindness.

Charles Tubbs

May 6, 2015

Thoughts are with you Jodi and your family .

Michael slabicki

May 6, 2015

Our family loved you and your family, God bless you on your journey

Andrea Rice

May 6, 2015

My thoughts and prayers to the family.

Juanita Pelletier

May 5, 2015

Wanted to say Farwell to my hero And God bless you.