TSGT Bobby Gene Damron USAF, ret, was born on August 12, 1927 in Abilene, Texas to George Ronald and Arnel Lulu (Teague) Damron. He passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 in Bois D'Arc, Missouri. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at Meadors Funeral Home in Republic, Missouri, with retired minister and long time family friend Joe Yates, and Pastor Dan Swadley of Brookline Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, Missouri, with full military honors. Visitation is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., on Monday, June 24, 2013 at the funeral home. Bob was raised and attended school in Cement, Oklahoma. He quit school and joined the Navy on September 5, 1944. He spent one year and nine months in the Navy during WWII and after being honorably discharged he joined the Air Force. Bob met the love of his life, Wilma Jean Stokes, in Claremore, Oklahoma while home on leave. On May 9, 1950, they were married in Columbus, Georgia. Bob was stationed in many places during his military career, such as California, Georgia, Texas, Japan, Guam, Okinawa, Alaska, Oklahoma and finally settling in Utah where he retired on October 31, 1967. Bob was an Air Traffic Controller while in the Air Force. After retirement, he joined the Civil Service and continued doing the same job at the same post for the next seven years. After being medically retired from the civil service in 1974, Bob moved his family to Arkansas to be near extended family and lived there for the next 35 years. They became members of Hector First Baptist Church in Hector, Arkansas, a church his parents helped found. He served as Sunday School Director for many years. After Bob's wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they moved to Missouri to be near their children and grandchildren. Bob spent the next four years taking care of his wife until she passed away on Easter Sunday 2013. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 62 years; one grandson, Joshua Damron; and two sisters. Survivors include four children, Greg Damron and wife Pam of St Peters, MO, Lisa Wood and husband Ernie of Bois D'Arc, MO, Vicki Hendron and husband SSG Mark Hendron of Lawton, OK, and Eric Damron and wife Tonya of Republic; ten grandchildren, Jeremy Wood of AR ,Tyla Massey and husband Jimmy of MO, FC2 James Taylor and wife Bobbi of VA , Amanda Smith of MO, SSG Zach Taylor and wife Daneene of CA, Cody Sims of MO, Brandy Sessom and husband Tanner of OK, Brittany Damron, Natalie Damron, and Alyssa Damron, all of MO; and 13 great grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Vernon and Betty Damron of AR; a brother-in-law, Chester Stokes of CA; a sister-in-law, JoAnn Darling and husband Gordon of OR; and many nieces and nephews. Bob also leaves his church families at Hector First Baptist Church and at Brookline Baptist Church, as well as many friends and extended family members.