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John R. 'Bob' Reagan Winston Salem, NC QCWA # 12029 Chapter 57 |
Mr. John Robert (Bob) Reagan, 85, of Winston-Salem passed away on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at WFU Baptist Medical Center.
He was born May 30, 1924 in Richmond, Virginia to John Withers Reagan and Ethyl Montgomery Slayton. Mr. Reagan was raised in Danville, Virginia and joined the Army Air Corps in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1942 at the age of eighteen. He was trained and assigned to fight in World War II with the 447th Bomb group as a radio operator on a B-17 (Flying Fortress). On December 31, 1943, on his first mission over France, his plane was shot down and he was captured by the Germans. He served as a Prisoner of War in Stalag 17 for sixteen months until he was liberated by General Patton's Army. Upon his return to the United States, he finished his technical education in radio at Valpariso Technical Institute in Valpariso, Indiana. After working as a control room operator at radio station WCMW in Canton, Ohio, he worked at another radio station in Panama City, Florida. In December 1948 he joined the radio shop as radio technician and worked at Piedmont Airlines in Winston-Salem until 1976 when he retired as Director of Avionics.
Mr. Reagans was known for his quick wit and sense of humor. His lifetime hobby was amateur radio and his call letters were W4KGR. He enjoyed going on annual "Field Day" competitions and making radio contacts with other operators throughout the world. He was also very involved with a number of veteran organizations, including the American Ex-Prisoners of War; the American Legion; the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Ex-Prisoners of war; and the Disabled American Veterans.
Surviving Family includes his former wife Margaret Reagan; one son Ronald J. Reagan and wife Betsy of Winston-Salem; two daughters Jeanette Sheek and husband Kenny of Clemmons and Vickie Jarvis and husband John of Winston-Salem; eight grandchildren Daniel Reagan, David Reagan, Wendy Sheek, Traci Jarvis and husband Brandon, Katie James and husband Sam, Laura Grannaman, Danny Jarvis, and Catie Jarvis; six great grandchildren Shane, Brittany, Kaylee, Gray, Hunter, and Tristan.
