Lt Col. Robert E. Woody, USAF, age 92, went to be with his Lord and Savior having passed away in Rockledge, Florida on August 7, 2012. He was born in Hollins, Virginia, on August 22, 1919, one of nine children born to Mr. Omer D. and Alice Woody. “Rob” is a graduate of William Fleming High School, Class of 1939. At age 19 he enlisted in the 116TH Infantry of the Virginia National Guard. He excelled in his military duties, was selected for Officer’s Candidate School and then flying training and he was eventually sent to Steeple Morden, England being assigned to the 8th Air Force’s 354th Fighter Squadron in the 355th Fighter Group where he flew the P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-51 Mustang for bomber escort missions over France and Germany. He became known as “Roanoke’s Flying Ace” with eleven enemy aircraft and 58 combat missions and 201 combat hours to his credit. He has the distinction of achieving the most air victories in the shortest time span of any 355th Fighter Group pilot. He is credited with shooting down five enemy aircraft in a single mission for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His military service awards and decorations include three Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals and the Commendation Medal. Because of his keen observations and recommendations for improving fighter tactics he was recalled to 8th Fighter Command to help plan and coordinate air cover for the D-Day invasion. He returned from the war and married his High School sweetheart, Dot, on October 28, 1944. He then performed a variety of flying and command assignments, a tour in the Philippines, an exchange assignment with the Royal Air Force and instructed in the early jet fighters. He graduated from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, AL in 1957 and became Director of Administrative Services, Headquarters Civil Air Patrol. He was re-assigned as base executive officer for Naha Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, where he once again demonstrated his superb airmanship and exceptional flying skills by saving the life of a young Airman mechanic who stole and thought he could fly a twin engine C-47 transport plane by flying alongside and “talking him down.” For saving the Airman’s life and the aircraft, he was awarded the Pacific Air Force “Able Aeronaut Award.” He was also noted for creating Naha AB’s first major recreational facility, a beach on a coral rock bed which was subsequently named “Fitz-Woody Beach” after him and another officer who headed up the project. Rob ended his career at the Pentagon as Chief of Security Policy Division, Headquarters USAF Law Enforcement and Security Policy until he retired in 1968. He then moved his beloved family into his Cocoa Beach, Florida dream home which he immensely enjoyed with them for over 35 years. He loved boating and fishing and sold real estate and also served on the board of the First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach. He is survived by his son, Maj. Robert L. Woody, USAF (Ret.) and daughter in law, Karol, his grandson, Robert James Woody, and very special nieces and nephews. Rob was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Dorothy, and brothers Fred, Howard, Irvin and Tom; and sisters, Lucille, Estelle, Pauline and Virginia. Rob was buried alongside his wife, Dot, and her parents and sisters and his brother Howard in a private ceremony at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia on August 15, 2012. Rob will be remembered as a sweet, loving and kind person with a true servant’s heart who was always interested in helping people, but most of all, a very devoted and loving husband and father whose unselfish love was boundless. A man of noble character in uniform and out, who always put others before himself, he will be greatly missed by many, but will be welcomed by so many more. He has “fought the good fight,” “finished the race,” and “kept the faith.” He has once again “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God.” Well done, as “a good and faithful servant.” Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association National Office, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.