BG Robert Clay Karns USAF(Ret.) 1929 - 2018 Obituary
Brigadier General Robert Clay Karns, USAF (Ret.) passed away peacefully in South Jordan, UT the evening of April 20, 2018 after having spent the day in the loving company of his daughter and son-in-law. Robert was born on May 2, 1929, to Merton E. and Glesnore C. Karns in Oswego, KS as the older of two boys. A short time later, the Karns family moved to Chetopa, KS.
Bob attended Kemper Military School and the University of Arkansas before attending the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. In 1953, upon his graduation from West Point, Bob was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. That summer he married his wife of 39 years, Marilyn Perkins Karns.
During his 28 year Air Force career, Bob became a pilot and flew combat reconnaissance missions in North Korea and North Vietnam, coached varsity wrestling at the Air Force Academy, traveled to Japan to learn judo, which he then taught at the Academy, earned a master's degree in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and was stationed in numerous locations in the US, from east to west, as well as the UK and Germany. Over his career, Bob earned the lasting friendship and respect of many of those he met both during and after his time in the Air Force.
Bob was a dedicated, proud servant to his country, and a loyal friend to many around the world. He is profoundly missed.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM, April 17, 2019 at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Operation Homefront at www.operationhomefront.org.
To view full obituary and to share condolences please go to www.serenityfhs.com.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on Jan. 6, 2019
Brigadier General Robert Clay Karns, USAF (Ret.) passed away peacefully in South Jordan, UT the evening of April 20, 2018 after having spent the day in the loving company of his daughter and son-in-law. Robert was born on May 2, 1929, to Merton E. and Glesnore C. Karns in Oswego, KS as the older of two boys. A short time later, the Karns family moved to Chetopa, KS.
Bob attended Kemper Military School and the University of Arkansas before attending the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. In 1953, upon his graduation from West Point, Bob was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. That summer he married his wife of 39 years, Marilyn Perkins Karns.
During his 28 year Air Force career, Bob became a pilot and flew combat reconnaissance missions in North Korea and North Vietnam, coached varsity wrestling at the Air Force Academy, traveled to Japan to learn judo, which he then taught at the Academy, earned a master's degree in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and was stationed in numerous locations in the US, from east to west, as well as the UK and Germany. Over his career, Bob earned the lasting friendship and respect of many of those he met both during and after his time in the Air Force.
Bob was a dedicated, proud servant to his country, and a loyal friend to many around the world. He is profoundly missed.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM, April 17, 2019 at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Operation Homefront at www.operationhomefront.org.
To view full obituary and to share condolences please go to www.serenityfhs.com.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on Jan. 6, 2019
BG Robert Clay Karns USAF(Ret.) 1929 - 2018 Obituary
Brigadier General Robert Clay Karns, USAF (Ret.) passed away peacefully in South Jordan, UT the evening of April 20, 2018 after having spent the day in the loving company of his daughter and son-in-law. Robert was born on May 2, 1929, to Merton E. and Glesnore C. Karns in Oswego, KS as the older of two boys. A short time later, the Karns family moved to Chetopa, KS.
Bob attended Kemper Military School and the University of Arkansas before attending the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. In 1953, upon his graduation from West Point, Bob was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. That summer he married his wife of 39 years, Marilyn Perkins Karns.
During his 28 year Air Force career, Bob became a pilot and flew combat reconnaissance missions in North Korea and North Vietnam, coached varsity wrestling at the Air Force Academy, traveled to Japan to learn judo, which he then taught at the Academy, earned a master's degree in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and was stationed in numerous locations in the US, from east to west, as well as the UK and Germany. Over his career, Bob earned the lasting friendship and respect of many of those he met both during and after his time in the Air Force.
Bob was a dedicated, proud servant to his country, and a loyal friend to many around the world. He is profoundly missed.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM, April 17, 2019 at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Operation Homefront at www.operationhomefront.org.
To view full obituary and to share condolences please go to www.serenityfhs.com.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on Jan. 6, 2019
Brigadier General Robert Clay Karns, USAF (Ret.) passed away peacefully in South Jordan, UT the evening of April 20, 2018 after having spent the day in the loving company of his daughter and son-in-law. Robert was born on May 2, 1929, to Merton E. and Glesnore C. Karns in Oswego, KS as the older of two boys. A short time later, the Karns family moved to Chetopa, KS.
Bob attended Kemper Military School and the University of Arkansas before attending the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. In 1953, upon his graduation from West Point, Bob was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. That summer he married his wife of 39 years, Marilyn Perkins Karns.
During his 28 year Air Force career, Bob became a pilot and flew combat reconnaissance missions in North Korea and North Vietnam, coached varsity wrestling at the Air Force Academy, traveled to Japan to learn judo, which he then taught at the Academy, earned a master's degree in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and was stationed in numerous locations in the US, from east to west, as well as the UK and Germany. Over his career, Bob earned the lasting friendship and respect of many of those he met both during and after his time in the Air Force.
Bob was a dedicated, proud servant to his country, and a loyal friend to many around the world. He is profoundly missed.
Services will be held at 11:00 AM, April 17, 2019 at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Operation Homefront at www.operationhomefront.org.
To view full obituary and to share condolences please go to www.serenityfhs.com.
Published Online in Northwest Florida Daily News on Jan. 6, 2019
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
