Robert Wayne Throckmorton

Bob was born in Wichita, Kansas, September 7, 1929, to Dr. J. Russell Throckmorton and Helen Lawrence Throckmorton. Bob’s father was a Methodist minister and a Bishop within the church; the family moved extensively in Kansas, serving Methodist church communities in Salina, Dodge City, Wichita and Hayes, to name a few.

Bob spent his early summers growing up in the mountains of Colorado, to the cool, clear air where the family would retreat during the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. In his teen years, he worked on a farm in Kansas, running the tractor, tending to the wheat crop and caring for the animals.

But the Kansas prairie and the Colorado mountains couldn’t keep a hold on Bob, who longed to fly airplanes and see the world! After graduating from the University of Colorado, Class of 1951, Bob enlisted in the Air Force and entered Aviation Pilot Cadet Training. He earned his wings and 2nd Lieutenant’s bars and was assigned to the Far East.

“Throck” (another nickname) flew the Curtiss C-46 Commando in transport of military cargo and troops throughout the region, primarily in Korea and Japan. After the Korean War, he was assigned further flying duties in the theater and flew C-119s, C-47s and the DC-3 Dakota until he returned to the US.

During the years after Korea, he served in unique roles, as a Personnel Psychologist in Detroit and a Military Intelligence Officer in Thule, Greenland and Langley AFB, Virginia. He was then selected to attend Yale University Institute of Far Eastern Languages as a full-time student of Mandarin Chinese. Upon completion of language studies, he returned to Asia, stationed in Japan, Taiwan and later in Okinawa as Commander of the 6990 Security Group.

In periods between these duties, he was twice assigned to South Vietnam, as advisor to 7th Air Force and MACV and last as “out-country” commander of several “in-country” units. Bob was in Saigon during the North Vietnamese TET offensive in 1968. He flew reconnaissance missions throughout Southeast Asia in c-130 and RC-135 aircraft over friendly and hostile territory during the 1960s and ‘70s.

After 12 years in Asia, Bob was chosen to command the US Air Force School of Applied Cryptologic Sciences at Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX. Subsequently he was appointed Chief, Field Management and Evaluation at the National Security Agency (NSA) at Ft. Meade, MD. His final assignment was as Commander, 6944 Security Wing at Offutt AFB, Omaha, NE, where he served until his retirement in 1979.

During his 28-year active-duty military career, Bob was twice-awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, twice-awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal three times along with various lesser awards and service ribbons.

Bob and his first wife, Joyce Gay of Detroit, MI, were married in 1956 and were blessed with three sons during the course of their 27-year marriage.

After his military service, Bob spent several years in the public sector as HR Director at EG&G Automotive Research.

When he finally retired from the work force, he continued a very full life. Bob and his wife Karen, of Leicester, England, met in 1989 and married in 1997. Together, shared their English heritage with many trips to England and Europe, golf clubs in tow. They split time between their country home close to Bulverde and his beloved mountains, where he and his sister co-owned a Victorian-era home in the “The Switzerland of America”, Ouray, CO.

For thirteen years, Karen and Bob joined six other couples for gourmet, at home dinners and once, even a gourmet campout! Bob was an avid reader and always shared his learning with friends. He loved being with people and, the more friends, the better!

He developed a great interest in genealogy which led him to re-connect with the English branch of the Throckmorton family. Along with British cousin Clare McLaren-Throckmorton, they hosted the 2000 Throckmorton Family Reunion at Coughton Court, the 600-year-old home for 21 generations of the family in England. The large, successful gathering of more than 120 Throckmortons from all over the globe garnered worldwide newspaper and magazine coverage. The reunion is still talked about today at Coughton Court, the magnificent country estate in Warwickshire, England.

Bob is survived by his wife, Karen Joy Throckmorton and his three sons and their families –

Gregory Throckmorton of San Antonio, TX; Douglas Throckmorton and his wife Sheryl Bailey Throckmorton of Highland Village, TX; and Bradley Throckmorton of Durango, CO; and his five grandchildren and great-granddaughter.

A military honors service will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, along with a Celebration of Life reception afterward, to be scheduled in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to established Veterans’ charities of your choice or any organization that serves military veterans and their families.