Robert Carlson

Colonel Robert E. Carlson, USAF retired, age 95, of Fairborn, Ohio, passed away Friday, June 24, 2016, at Hospice of Dayton. A resident of Fairborn since 1966, Colonel Carlson was born Sept. 2, 1920, in Creston, the son of the late Frank A. and Clara A. (Anderson) Carlson.

After attending Creston Junior College, he joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 and graduated from flying school in 1942 and commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He served in WWII for two-and-one-half years in the Southwest Pacific, including Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Philippines and Australia, returning to the U.S. in 1944. Later he participated in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War. Subsequent overseas assignments were Okinawa, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. Among his decorations were the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with five oak leaf clusters, Air Medal and two Presidential Unit Citations. While stationed in the United Kingdom, Colonel Carlson was appointed by the American Ambassador to the Board of Governors of the Second Air Division Memorial Trust.

Colonel Carlson graduated from the University of Maryland, the Air War College and attended George Washington University. Following retirement, he served for a period of three years with TRW as an air operations supervisor with the Imperial Iranian Air Force in Iran.

He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Arthur A., John R., Frank A., Leonard E. and Marvin W. and infant son Michael Paul.

Colonel Carlson was a member of Alexandria Washington Lodge No. 22, Arlington, Virginia, The Valley of Dayton Scottish Rite and the Dayton Antioch Shrine. He served as an Elder of First Presbyterian Church in Fairborn.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret, whom he married in 1947; four sons, James, John and wife Sandra, Steven and wife Deborah and Mark and wife Kathy; five grandchildren, Suzanne Carlson, Jesse Carlson, Jamie Carlson, Lindsey Bologna and husband Jared and Michael Carlson and wife Sarah; three great-granddaughters, Kaia and Shylo Bologna and Jose Carlson; a step-granddaughter Jessica Tudor; two step-great-grandchildren, Morgan and Trever; as well as other special family and friends.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, June 30, at First Presbyterian Church, 1130 Highview Dr., Fairborn, Ohio, with Rev. Kelley Shin officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. A private burial with full military honors will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church. Arrangements in care of Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., in Fairborn, Ohio. Condolences may be made to the family at www.BeltonStroup.com.