Obituary: Wills, Robert Martin, Sr. Lt. Col Usaf Ret.
Age 92
(Age 92) Passed away May 31, 2014.
Robert was born November 8, 1921 to Nina and Albert Wills in Marion, Ohio.
He graduated from Harding High School in 1939 and worked as a commercial artist for JH Maish Company when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
He enlisted immediately but took time to marry his fiancĂŠ June Imbody.
He attended OCS in Florida and took flight training in grade.
He flew B17 bombers and was assigned to Great Britain.
His plane was struck with flak on return from his 7th mission which was to Berlin.
The crew escaped the plane but he was later captured and held in POW camp for 13 months.
He escaped from a forced march by the German Guard during an advance by Russian troops and made his way to the American lines.
After the war ended, he received his degree from Penn State University and accepted a commission as 1st Lieutenant in the Regular Air Force.
He was a Squadron Commander assigned to Germany to identify Nazi war criminals before flying the Airlift.
Robert was an Assistant Air AttachĂŠ in the Netherlands before being assigned to SAC.
He worked at the Pentagon and was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Intelligence Committee during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
He retired from the Air Force in 1965 and later worked for Lockheed as Director of Sales Europe for the L1011 aircraft.
After he retired from Lockheed in 1981 he moved to Liberty Lake to be near family.
Robert leaves his wife, June, after 73 years of marriage; three children, Robert M. Wills II, Alison Lefebvre, Michelle Hart; four grandchildren, Shea Wills Wesche, Ashley Vitro, Nathan and Grant Amouroux, four great-grandchildren, Bailey Wills, Jaelyn Wesche, Bryce Amouroux and Carly Vitro.
Viewing will be at Heritage Funeral Home on Friday, June 6th, 10:00AM-5:00PM with full Military Graveside Honors on Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 11:00AM.
Friends are welcome to attend.