Robert Charles Wagoner

Obituary Robert Charles Wagoner was born June 19, 1922 at Gardena, Washington to Lyman Charles Wagoner and Edith Gertrude McDonald Wagoner. He passed away on February 25, 2007 at the age of 84. He married Barbara Jeanne Boyle on May 15, 1942. She passed away on August 30, 2006 after 64 years of marriage. Bob, as he was known by friends, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on September 11, 1942. He flew 5 combat missions and one "milk run" during WWII as part of the 351st BG, but during his last mission his B-17 was forced to crash land in Jonkopping, Sweden, where he was held an internee for about a year. Although he told his children and grandchildren few stories of his military service he did speak the early A-bombs and their danger for flight crews because of their weight. He served in Korea during 1953-54 and told stories of "Bedcheck Charlie" who strafed the camp early each evening. Bob Wagoner received 3 Legion of Merit medals during his time with the USAF. He retired as a Colonel in 1974 to Tacoma, Washington where he remained for the rest of his life. He dabbled in oil painting and stained glass, but his true love was fishing. His frequent boast was that he "was the best fisherman in the Sound". He was predeceased by his brother, Stanley Wagoner, and his sister, Arleen Watson. His children, Pamela Wagoner and Robert Wagoner, Jr., survive him, as well as 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Graveside service will be held on Friday, March 2, 2007 at 1:45 pm at Tahoma National Cemetery.