Robert E. Prince's Obituary
SAN JOSE, CA - Lt. Colonel Robert E. Prince, age 86 and retired United States Air Force officer, passed away peacefully in San Jose, CA on Saturday, May 25, 2013. Funeral Services in honor and celebration of his life will be held at Noon on Sunday, June 2, 2013 at Adams Funeral Chapel with Reverend Robert Lee officiating. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Honor Guard of the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592 will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Mattoon. Visitation for family and friends will be held on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until service time. It is suggested that thoughtful donations in his honor be made to Hospice of the Valley. Gifts may be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, mailed to Hospice of the Valley, 4850 Union Avenue, San Jose, CA 95124 or mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston, IL 61920. Bob Prince was born on February 10, 1927 to the late John and Ruth (Justice) Prince of Charleston. He joined the Army Air Corps when he turned 18 in 1945 and served in the occupation force in Germany for two years before returning to school in Illinois. In 1947, he met and married Helen Mowrer, his beloved wife of 60 years; and in 1949, enrolled in officer's training and flight schools in the newly established U.S. Air Force. Bob was primarily a fighter pilot during his Air Force career which included assignments in England, California, Okinawa, Texas, Maine, Greenland, and Cape Cod, MA. He completed his Master's Degree in Social Science while teaching ROTC at San Jose State (1958-1962) and served as commander (in succession) of the 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Bangor, Maine (67-68), Sondrestrom AFB in Greenland (68-69), the 60th FIS at Otis AFB on Cape Cod (69-71), and North Truro AFS also on the Cape (71-74). Bob retired to Normal, Illinois in 1976 where he sold real estate and did volunteer work in support of Planned Parenthood, the United Nations, and the Sister City program. Bob and Helen moved to San Jose in 2004 to be closer to the California contingent of the family and lived at The Villages until Helen's death in 2008. In recent years, Bob struggled to overcome a broken hip, Parkinson's and dementia, but maintained his sense of humor and positive attitude. Despite his 30 years of service to his country and all of his accomplishments, Bob's greatest legacy is the love, support and guidance he gave to his family. Through his encouragement and his example, he taught them to always think of others and to step up and do the right thing when required. He will be sorely missed, but his influence will live on through those by whom he is survived: a sister, Anna May Roberts of Canton, MI; his four children, Melody (John) Ross of San Jose, Marilyn (Bob) Louden of Valley Springs, CA, Bonnie (Tom) Sawyer of Richmond Hills, GA; Phil Prince of San Jose; and his 14 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brothers, John Prince of Arlington Heights, IL and Bill Prince of Kankakee, IL.
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