Bob was born on February 19th, 1924 in Detroit Michigan to Coilak (Poole) Puckett and Earl R. Puckett, the youngest of two sons. He was predeceased by his brother Ronald in 2006.
Upon graduating from Lewis Cass Technical High School in Detroit in 1942 Bob enlisted as a US Navy Aviation Cadet during WWII. In 1945 he received his ‘wings’ as an Ensign in Pensacola, Florida, flying PBY Catalina and Martin Mariner “flying boats” at the war’s end. Inspired in his youth by tales of “G-Men” fighting crime, after the war Bob began working at the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Washington, DC, attending college at night. On earning his degree in 1949, Bob was appointed FBI Special Agent. Initially in Boston, he moved to the FBI field office in New Haven, CT. During his time in the FBI Bob participated in many high-profile cases including the Brinks Robbery, the Patty Hearst kidnapping, the Jimmy Hoffa kidnapping, the Edgar Bronfman kidnapping, the Whitey Bulger case and Soviet espionage cases. Bob retired from the FBI in 1979, operating his own security and investigative business until 1997, traveling to Africa on assignment in one situation.
Bob married Janice Camelin in Washington, D.C. on June 7, 1952. They enjoyed 43 years of marriage together with homes in Connecticut and Cape Cod. In 1991, East Orleans became their permanent home. Jan passed away on October 3, 1995.
Bob and Mary Jane met at a 1999 Super Bowl party on Cape Cod. Bob proposed to Mary Jane in the air as they flew over their future home together in Bob’s Mooney airplane. They married in Harwich Port, Massachusetts in 2004.
Bob’s passion for flying endured beyond the Navy. At one point he had the distinction of being the longest original owner Mooney airplane pilot. A desire for travel found Bob piloting his Mooney aircraft to Florida in 2001 with Mary Jane. Both later drove cross-country while Bob was in his early eighties.
Capable with his hands, Bob built most of his home in East Orleans himself and enjoyed spending time in his workshop, still building cabinetry at age 90 though legally blind.
Bob was a self-made man who loved his country and enjoyed sharing his life experiences. An avid reader, Bob loved history and possessed a thirst for knowledge that age never diminished. Above all, he was a kind and intelligent gentleman who lived and loved life; an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to know him.
Bob is remembered with love by his wife, Mary Jane Miller-Puckett of East Orleans, MA, his sister-in-law, Madge Bourdo of Kalamazoo, MI, nephew, Christopher VanderWeide (Karla), Kalamazoo MI, nieces Catherine Dusseljee (Douglas), Byron Center, MI, and Lynda Nelson (Jeffrey), Zeeland, MI. Grandnephews; John VanderWeide and Scott VanderWeide, Stepdaughters Alison Estes (Paul), Pinehust, NC and Leslie Herlin (Robert), Hobe Sound, FL and four grandchildren; Colleen Estes, Andrea Estes, Bowden Herlin and Hugh Herlin.
Bob will be fondly remembered among “The Quiet Birdmen” and countless friends and neighbors as well as four devoted caregivers Erika, Lotte, Colleen and Kris - all of whom he cared for very much.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Funeral Services on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at 11:00, Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Honor Flight of New England, Angel Flight of New England
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