Lt. Colonel Robert Bradford Fawley, 94, of Westerville, Ohio, died Tuesday, October 30, 2018.
The love of his life,Florence, preceded his death in 2016, after 68 years of marriage.
He leaves four children, Edward Cunningham(Susan), Rena Fawley(Paul), Robert B. “Brad” Fawley Jr.(Anne), Mary Clough(Steve); nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was the oldest child of six and leaves two living siblings, Gerald Fawley(Bette) and Ruth Fawley McCrum; plus many dear relatives, including cousins, O.B.”Brownie”Fawley, Eva Mae Lambert, Howard H. “Butch” Fawley, and Shirley Fawley Neptune.
Brad was born December 12, 1923, in Morgantown. He was a brilliant young man, with extraordinary talents including concert violinist, hunter, fisherman, and had an incredible mechanical engineering ability on airplanes, cars, and musical instruments. Brad graduated from Morgantown High School in 1941, then enrolled as an R.O.T.C. engineering student at WVU. His deep passion to fly became a reality on December 13, 1941, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps the day after he turned 18.
Lt. Colonel Fawley accelerated quickly into leadership positions and through flight school. After training many squadrons for war, as a combat fighter pilot, he flew 64 missions, with 200 sorties over Europe during World War II with the 9th Air Force, 367th Fighter Group “The Dynamite Gang”, 394th Squadron “Casket”. Brad earned numerous citations, including The Presidential Citation Badge, nine Air Medals, The Distinguished Flying Cross and The Bronze Star. He proudly wore the Commander Pilot Wings. Some of the long list of aircraft he flew and commanded include the BT-13, P-38, P-39, P-47, P-63,T-6, C-47, B-26 and more. He also was an accomplished expert marksman.
After the war recovery, Brad and Florence raised the family, while stationed in various locations of the United States and Europe. Lt. Colonel Fawley’s duties included top military clearance, Strategic Air Command, base and deputy base commander of multiple air bases in the U.S., Madrid, and Ankara during the Cold War, and Associate Professor of Air Science and Head of Military Science Department R.O.T.C. Otterbein College.
Lt. Colonel Fawley served the U.S.A.F. for 23 years. After retirement from the Air Force, he served as the Otterbein College Director of Campus Services, Vice President Precision Metal Products, Manager of Facilities and Administrative Services First Community Church, Superintendent Westerville Mall, and Director of Buildings Franklin County United Way.
Brad was a huge mentor, a very giving person, a man of his word, and loyal.
Lt. Colonel Fawley will receive full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
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