Robert Vernon Fike

Doctor Robert Vernon Fike, 87, of Beavercreek, passed away August 19 at home after a lengthy illness. He was born December 9, 1925 in Junction City, Kansas, the son of the late Paul Robert Fike and Eunice Vivien (Riley) Fike. Robert was a retired Southern Baptist Minister and psychologist. He also served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a tail gunner in the 19th Bomb Group and later in the US Air Force as a Chaplain, retiring at the grade of Lt. Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol.

Bob was preceded in death by infant daughter, Linda Kay, and son, Mark. Robert is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bonnie, son, Glen, daughter-in-law Kimberly, and son, James of Beavercreek, and daughter Kayla and son-in-law Richard Reed of Junction, CO as well as grandchildren, Carrie, Jeremiah, Melissa, Lisa, Christopher, Craig, Elizabeth, numerous great-grandchildren, and brother, Curtis of Wichita, KS and numerous other relatives and friends. Arrangements are being handled by Newcomer Funeral Home of Beavercreek. Services at Newcomer are Friday, 7 September 2012 at 11:30 followed by a brief service at the National Cemetery in Dayton, OH.

Bob did not talk much about the war as did most vets of the Greatest Generation. He started his service in the Army Air Corps in Radio Operator School. You had to learn Morse code then and he said when he could hear da-dit-da in his sleep. He decided to try out for gunnery school. He took gunnery training in a B-17 and they shipped him off to the Pacific with his crew in a brand new B-29. Dad was the smallest of the crew members, and the tailgunner had to roll through a tube all the way to the back of the aircraft, so that was his assignment. He also took a chill easily, so he was always bundled up in a fur jacket and hat, , so his call sign became "Bunny". He was stationed in Guam with the 93rd Squadron, but forward deployed to Tinian. He flew 11 missions in WWII and it is amazing what he and his buddies accomplished. Their plane crashed on his arrival to deliver the B-29 to the lead crew, so his crew made no points with them. He flew the first low level unescorted night fire bombing raid over Tokyo. He watched the Enola Gay being loaded with the atomic bomb. He shot down a Japanese fighter called a "Tony" over Yokohama. He flew the mission with Boxcar dropping the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki. He flew the very last mission of WWII and, as the tail gunner, he was the last person to return from a WWII bombing mission. The family has a great picture. He flew over the Missouri during the surrender of Japan. Bob was proud of his service, not his accomplishments. If you have seen or have a chance to see the History Channel's " Last Days of WWII", he appeared 5 times in the documentary. He is featured in the last scene saying, "We'd do it all again".
Bob came back to the states, married Bonnie and continued to serve in the Army Air Corps where he was promoted from Staff Sergeant to Second Lieutenant. He attended Hardin Simmons University and became an ordained Baptist minister and went on to become a Chaplain in the Air Force As an Air Force Chaplain, he took his kids to Japan where he learned to really like the Japanese people he had so recently fought against.

After the service, he was pastor at many locations, but settled in Yucaipa, a small town in Southern California, where his kids went to school and grew up. While there, he was Dean of Men at California Baptist College, retired from the ministry, was a social worker, and then opened his own practice as a Christian Psychologist. While working with the San Bernardino police department as their Chaplain, he was taken hostage and was held at gun point by a troubled police officer. Bob talked that policeman through his problems and the policemen gave Bob his gun. The family still has it. Bob did not retire until he was 80 years old.

Bob was a private pilot with a life-long love of flying. He was Non-Commissioned Officer In Charge (NCOIC) of Flying Safety while in the Army Air Corps and got his pilot's license. He was president of the Air Force Aeroclub at Loredo, Texas. He passed his love of flying to his son, Glen, who restored and still flies Bob's Ercoupe.

In all of Bob's accomplishments, he was most proud of his 68 year marriage to Bonnie and the family that they raised. They knew each other for 72 years.
He met Bonnie just prior to entering the service. He lied about his age to her, because at that time no self respecting 18 year old girl would have ever dated a 16 year old. He also lied about his age to get in the Army Air Corps. Those are the only lies I have ever known him to tell.

Bob will be sorely missed not only by his family, but by those he was always willing to listen to or to share the stories of his life with