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The funeral services celebrating and honoring the life of Colonel Robert "Bob" Lines, USAF (retired) will be held at Emmanuel Baptist church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2022. Livestream will be available at https://www.emmanuelenid.org. Services and complete cremation care are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Full Military Graveside services will be held in The Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, as scheduling allows.
Born on July 17, 1929, in upstate New York, Bob Lines fell in love with flying at a young age, obtaining his pilot license before graduating high school. Tired of the cold weather, he moved to Houston,Texas, to attend college at the University of Houston. There he met a young student, Anne Acker, from Rice University and they married in 1952. The Korean War called and needed a young Air Force fighter pilot and off he went to pilot training in Del Rio,Texas, then to war. Forty-six missions in Korea were soon followed by 105 missions in Vietnam, where he flew the F-105 Thunderchief, one of which now resides on Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.
During that time, he had three sons, and taught them just the right amount of discipline, love, and respect for others. He traveled the globe with his family, spending twelve years overseas in Korea, Thailand, Okinawa, England, and Turkey. His sons moved twelve times before graduating from high school. His favorite place to be stationed was Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, where he served as base commander from 1972-1974. After 31 years and 8 months, Colonel Lines retired from Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin, Texas, in 1982 as a distinguished fighter pilot and American hero. Throughout his military career, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, 3 Legion of Merit awards, 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 3 Meritorious Service Medals, and 14 Air Medals, having flown 18 different aircraft.
In 1983, he returned to Enid, Oklahoma, where he worked for Northrop Worldwide Aircraft Services as Division Manager until 1994. His wife, Anne, preceded him in death in 2006, after 53 years together. While in Enid, Bob Lines served as City Commissioner, member of the Airport Advisory Board, Enid Police Commission, Vance Development Board, and Bass Hospital Board.
In 2009, he married the second love of his life, Marsha Tatham. Traveling the world together on multiple boat and train excursions, they stayed active in their local church where Bob was the Treasurer for many years. One of his favorite pastimes was to spend his mornings, drinking coffee with friends at Woodring Airport, Enid. He loved his family, his friends, and Jesus. He passed away peacefully at home with his wife at his side, on January 30, 2022.
He is survived by his wife Marsha, sons Bob Jr. and Kathy Lines, Marc and Polly Lines, and Bill and Sandra Lines, and grandchildren Meredith, Jefferson, Perry, Harrison, Tanner, and McKenna; step-daughter, Jana James; step-grandchildren Tarah, Jordan, Michael, Canaan, McKeelyn, Ava, and great-grandchildren, Everleigh and Laylah.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Larry Smith, who gave wonderful, loving care in dad's last days; to his longtime friends Dr. Roy and Janet Camp, and all the fighter pilots who flew with dad, especially Ed Skowron.
In the words of his favorite poem High Flight, by John Gillespie McGee, Jr., our dad has "Slipped the surly bonds of earth...put out his hand and touched the face of God."
In lieu of flower memorials may be given in his honor to the Enid, Garfield County, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 144 with Brown-Cummings Funeral serving as custodian of the funds.
Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family online at www.Brown-Cummings.com.
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