Retired United States Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Lachance, 85 died reluctantly Monday June 11 after courageously waging battle with pancreatic cancer. He suffered through treatment all without complaint to buy a few more months with his beloved wife of 61 years, Tedene (Barney) Lachance. A private graveside service with full military honors was held at Leavenworth National Cemetery.
Robert was born April 5, 1933 in West Warwick, R.I. He enlisted in the United States Air Force soon after graduating from high school and was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Flight School in 1962 and commissioned as 2nd Lt. in 1963. A member of Strategic Air Command he flew as a radar navigator on the B36’s and B52’s for 11 ½ years until becoming Chief of Intelligence of the 4252 Division of Strategic Air Command at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa. His last assignment as Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Ne. flying as the intelligence representative aboard the Strategic Command Post. He was one of the youngest officers to receive rank of Lt. Colonel. He retired May in 1972 after enjoying and illustrious and exciting career in the armed forces.
After Robert retired he received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska then moved to Rhode Island and became Chief of Security Defense for the United States Army. Afterwards he was assigned by Civil Service to Kansas City then Omaha as Chief of Security for the Corp. of Engineers and retired in Kansas City in1995.
Robert is survived by his wife, Tedene, his sister Cecile Marsocci, sister-in-law Joyce Dickinson, his children Robert Lachance and wife Wendy, Lauren Benitez and her husband Eduardo and Tedene Halliwell and her husband Michael. He is also survived by his six grandchildren; Steve Lachance and his wife Allison, Melissa Seevers and her husband Derek, Jessica and David Halliwell and Diego and Nicolas Benitez.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents Simeon and Florence Lachance and sister Connie Sauvageau.
A true patriot, Robert will be remembered by all who knew him as devoutly loyal to his country, family and friends.
He will be truly missed. In his absence there will be a gap that can never be filled. However, if you personally knew Robert you would know that he is not really gone. He was a wonderful person and in all the lives he touched his legacy will not fade but will live on in future generations to come. Please share a memory at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com.
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