Robert Richard Rector

Robert Richard Rector, age 89, of Biloxi died Friday, September 6, 2013, in Biloxi. Mr. Rector was born in Battle Creek, Michigan and was a resident of the MS Gulf Coast since 1968. He is a veteran of the US Air Force and served in WWII, Japan, and Vietnam and retired as Senior Master Sargent in 1969 after 20 years of service. While on war detail, Robert’s plane was shot down in Czechoslovakia. He was captured by the Germans and put in prison camp until he and three other imprisoned soldiers escaped, walked three hundred miles to Odessa, Russia and was carried back to the US on a liberty ship. After military retirement, Robert began his civilian employment at Litton Shipyard where he worked for 20 years. He was a mason and member of the Biloxi Yacht Club, the Elks Club in Biloxi and the Lyman Airport Club. Robert especially enjoyed flying his own Cessna plane and playing many rounds of golf at Sunkist Country Club in Biloxi. Mr. Rector was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Rosa Rector. Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Mildred Louise Straughan; three daughters, Cheryl (Seth) Kirk, Camille (Quin) Gautier and Ellen Fryou; a son, Keith (Jill) Rector; three sisters, Loretta Wilson, Beverly Holcomb, Gertrude Hosbein; three granddaughters, Trisha, Beth and Laise; a grandson, Bobby Genna; three great-grandsons, Jax, Caed and Dax. We would like to thank all of the staff in the Yellowstone unit of the V. A. nursing home. The funeral service will be Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 3:00PM at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, Pass Road, Biloxi, where friends may visit from 2:00PM until 3:00PM. Burial with military honors will be Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 9:00AM at Biloxi National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family prefers memorials be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45290 or www.dav.org. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com.