Robert Edward Proctor

Lt. Colonel Robert Edward Proctor, USAF (Retired), veteran of World War II, died on February 14, 2011 in Mount Pleasant, SC surrounded by family. Known to loved ones as "Bob", he was born to James William Proctor and Ethel Hicks Proctor on July 12, 1920 in Lincolnton, NC. He attended high school in Rock Hill, SC, and graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC in 1942 with a BA in Music Education. He joined the US Army Air Corps on November 5, 1942. He completed flight training then was commissioned as Second Lieutenant on August 30, 1943. He deployed to England on December 11, 1943 and returned November 6, 1944, having flown a total of 201 combat hours and 52 missions in a P51 Mustang as a member of the 382nd Fighter Squadron. Upon returning from Europe, he married Elizabeth Howell Blackmon of Rock Hill, SC on November 24, 1944. Bob continued to serve in the US Air Corps until he was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant on November 11, 1945. He was in the AF Reserve until 1953 while working at his father's music store, Proctor Music Company, in Rock Hill, SC. He returned to active duty on July 14, 1953 in the US Air Force and was a flight instructor at Graham AF Base in Florida. He was an Operations Officer in Korea from August 1957 to July 1958. Upon returning stateside, he was a Photo Intelligence Officer in Texas and California. He was assigned to the Headquarters of the 455th Strategic Missile Wing in Minot, ND, and served as a Missile Target & Alignment Officer and Chief of Quality Control & Evaluation working with Minuteman Missiles. While at SAC (Strategic Air Command) Headquarters in Nebraska, he was Chief of Special Projects and Future Programs. At McConnell AF Base, Kansas, he was Wing Chief and Deputy Commander for Maintenance Control.  His last assignment was at Vandenberg AF Base, California where he was a Facility and Missile Systems Officer with Titan II Missiles. Bob retired as Lieutenant Colonel on April 30, 1978. During his 35 year Air Force career, he was awarded many medals, including the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, WWII American Campaign Medal, Europe-African-Middle East Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Air Force Armed Forces Reserve Medal, & the Master Missileman Badge. He accumulated many honors at Air Force Missile Competitions. "Bob and his wife, "Bett", raised three daughters as they moved to 9 different duty stations before retiring to Satellite Beach, FL near Patrick Air Force Base. He enjoyed fishing and golf during retirement and became a proficient woodcarver and artist. He doted on his three granddaughters who were often the subject of his graphite drawings and paintings, many of which appeared in gallery showings, won ribbons and sold at art shows. He welcomed a grandson into the world in 1993 and spent many hours over the years hunting with him in Nebraska. In his spare time, he was also a member of the Antique Auto Club of Cape Canaveral and spent many enjoyable hours rebuilding and restoring a 1929 Model A Pickup Truck. Bob was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge #111 in Rock Hill, SC. He charmed all of those around him by his contagiously optimistic personality. While he ran a tight ship both in the Air Force and at home, he was known for being a great friend who always had a joke ready. Bob was preceded in death by his wife in 1998 and by his four sisters, and is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth B. Proctor of East Windsor, NJ; Nancy P. Cruden (Thomas) of Isle of Palms, SC; and Susan P. McKain (Richard) of North Platte, Nebraska. He is also survived by three grandaughters, Ann Elizabeth Cruden Barr (Sean), Katherine Proctor Charlier (Christopher), and Gracelyn Howell Cruden and one grandson, James Robert McKain, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. At Bob's request, there will be no local services. He will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA on a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that memorial contributions should be directed to the National World War II Museum or a charity of choice.