He graduated from Wichita High School East, Wichita, KS and entered the United States Army Air Force in August 1940. Upon graduation from Aviation Cadet Training, he was assigned to Enid, OK as a basic training flight instructor. Later he was assigned to the First Combat Cargo Group in the CBI Theatre of Operations and then to the 14th Air Force (The Flying Tigers) commanded by General Claire Chennault where he flew missions over "The Hump" in China, Burma and India. In all he flew 343 combat missions. He was awarded the Air Medal Plus three oak-leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross plus one oak-leaf cluster and various victory medals. He was discharged as a Captain in the fall of 1945.
He attended OSU, Stillwater, OK, until he married Margaret "Peg" Dwyer on May 25, 1946 in Ponca City, OK. They moved to Denver, started a family, and owned and managed two grocery stores. After moving back to Ponca City, Bob was a salesman for the Curtiss Candy Company, Planters Peanuts and Nabisco and lived in Wichita Falls, El Paso, and Oklahoma City before settling in Lubbock in 1974.
He enjoyed playing golf and, later in life, watching golf, Texas Tech sports, and the Dallas Cowboys. He was a great storyteller, especially about WWII and his youth.
He was predeceased by his parents, wife Margaret, siblings Warner Beazley, Phyllis Songer, Dorothy Suhm and daughter Bonnie Hines.
Robert is survived by his children Robert D. Beazley (Sherri) of Allen, TX, Paula Reno of Lubbock, Thomas Beazley of Lubbock, and Edward Beazley (Barbara) of Friendswood, TX; brother Bill Beazley of Midland. He was "Popo" to grandchildren Rebecca, William, Betsy, Joseph, Emily and Macey Beazley, Naomi Doyle-Madrid, Larry Reno, Jr, Christopher Rice, and Amber Seaton-Reno.
Many thanks to longtime neighbors, especially Colene Fielding, Robert & Virginia Bitsche, and Johnny Ray & Betty Williams, whose presence in his life allowed him to live independently until the last three months of his life. Heartfelt gratitude to Glenda Mooney RN and Mary & David Caballero for sharing their gifts for dealing with end-of-life care with compassion.
Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2PM, Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at Resthaven Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Lubbock online or at 3702 21st Street, Lubbock, 79410 or to Mary’s Mission 4615 28th Street, Lubbock, 79410.
Arrangements are under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Lubbock, TX. Online condolences may be offered on our website at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com.
