Robert Joseph Reisenwitz

Robert Joseph (Bob) Reisenwitz entered this world on the 17th of November, 1932. He was born in Germantown, PA but was raised with his four siblings outside the small town of Ambler, PA. Bob was the 4th of 5 children who grew up in a modest old “farmhouse” that in an earlier life was a small metal casting foundry. He was accustomed to seeing massive brick and stone walls and the appearance of an industrial origin. His father worked on the Railroad and his mother worked night shift in an Asbestos factory during what would be known as the “Great Depression”. Together his parents provided a good stable home, but due to his father’s travel on the rails, and his mother’s shift work, Bob was mostly raised by his older sisters. They obviously did a good job. One of Bob’s earliest memories was the sight of an airplane flying overhead. He was absolutely fascinated by it, and as he grew older, was determined to become a pilot.

Bob graduated from Ambler High School in the Spring of 1950, worked a couple of factory and odd-jobs, but never gave up hope of becoming an aviator. During the Korean War, the US Air Force was critically short of pilots and started a program that Bob referred to as an “Air Cadet” program. Bob signed up for this in December, 1950 and was eventually posted to the Air Force Flying School, at the Malden Air Base, in Malden, MO, where he began to learn to fly.

But getting his Air Force Wings, and upon graduating, accepting his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force in 1954 was not his most notable accomplishment during his tour in Malden. The most important thing Bob did in Malden, MO, was meet the love of his life – Marilyn Louise Burge. Marilyn was also of humble origins, the youngest daughter of a sharecropper who had graduated from Malden High School and landed a job at the local Air Base. The stories of their meeting are family legend and the source of many memorable recollections. Marilyn and Bob had a truly wonderful marriage and life together until Marilyn passed away in September of 2023, a few days shy of her 88th birthday.

Bob was able to serve a truly remarkable career in the USAF, actively flying “Fighters” for 23 years, including 137 Combat missions and over 6000 flying hours. He was a true “War Hero” as a highly decorated Fighter Pilot during the Vietnam War, with awards that included the Silver Star, Bronze Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and eleven Air Medals. He was a Wild Weasel “Thud Driver” flying an F-105G model. He had the notable honor of leading the Anti-Aircraft “suppression” mission in support of what came to be known as the Son-Tay Prison Raid. His primary platforms during his decades of service included the F-86, F-100, F-101, F-102 and F-105. Bob achieved his childhood dream of becoming an aviator and flew as long as he was able.

Following Bob’s Air Force career, he retired in Niceville, FL at the rank of Lt. Col. In 1977 and began a Real Estate career as a Broker with Marilyn at his side for the following 16 years. Together they founded Dolphin Cay Realty in Niceville, FL and had a successful second career until he retired from it as well. During that time, Bob achieved another of his life goals and received his Bachelors Degree from the University of West Florida. The years of “night school” during his active-duty years finally paid off. Thereafter, visiting grandchildren became a higher priority for Bob and Marilyn.

Bob and Marilyn traveled the world, beginning in Wichita Falls, TX, then to Japan, then to Iceland, and to many states in the U.S. in between. Bob saw a lot of the Southeast Asian region during the Vietnam War as well. They raised three children, two daughters and one son. Bob is survived by his three children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Bob passed away peacefully at 91 years of age on 28 August 2024, while residing at the Watercrest Assisted Living Facility in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. Services for Bob and Marilyn will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery in the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL.

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