Robert James Horrigan

LT. COL. ROBERT (BOB) HORRIGAN (USAF Ret) Robert (Bob) Horrigan passed away after a sudden illness on 3 April 2011 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, with his wife, Mary, by his side. He was 89 years old. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 14 May 1921, the third child of four born to Barney and Lillian Horrigan. He lived in Tulsa until America entered World War II in 1941. He loved his family and the United States. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps and received his pilot wings and commission on 16 February 1942. He flew 76 missions during World War II as a member of the 325th Fighter Group and was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Presidential Unit Citation. Ernie Pyle described Bob\'s great story telling skills in his book, Brave Men. He also flew 60 missions during the Korean Conflict, was stationed at Grand Forks AFB during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel in 1968. He stared his second career with Riverside County in the Disaster Preparedness Office. In 1971 he became a director of the office and retired in 1984. He lived in Riverside, CA until 2007 when he decided he wanted to return to his roots. He lived for the next few years in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife Mary. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Chadene, and his two brothers, Barney and Jack, and his sister Tissie. He is survived by his loving wife of thirty years, Mary, and his three daughters, Annie Moore of Eastsound, Washington, Judy Horrigan and Kathy Corbin of Riverside, CA. He told wonderful stories, had a great sense of humor, and was a lover of history. he was kind to everyone he knew and all will miss him terribly. A viewing will be held at Acheson and Graham on Thurs. from 5:30-7:00pm. Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery on 8th of April, Staging Area #5 with full military honors. Arrangements under the direction of Acheson & Graham Mortuary (951) 688-1221 www.achesonandgraham.com