Robert Railey

Robert "Bob" Eugene Railey, 86, of Oakland passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2015 peacefully at home. Born on September 23, 1928 in McHenry MD, he was a son of the late Charles and Edith (Merrill) Railey. Bob graduated from Accident High School and enlisted in the Air Force at age of 18 and completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas and airplane engine mechanic school at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. After graduating from Officers Candidate School in 1949, Bob attended pilot training class at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, James Connelly Air Force Base, Texas and Williams Air Force Base, Arizona. Bob attended fighter weapons school at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and then flew 100 missions in Korea in the F80 with the 80th FBS. After serving in Korea, Bob was a T33 instructor at Webb Air Force Base in Texas until October 1953 when he joined the 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron (DC Air National Guard) at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland flying F86's and F100's as the operation officer and squadron commander until 1964. In 1956 he was in an air race flying an F86E from Hamilton Air Force Base, California to New Orleans, Louisiana but had engine failure over Reese Air Force Base, Texas that required an engine out landing. Bob was director of safety for the 140th Tactical Fighter Group, Colorado Air National Guard from 1964-1965 and the unit won the Air Force safety award. From 1964-1970 Bob was director of operations for the 121st Tactical Fighter Group, Ohio Air National Guard and retired in 1978 as an operations staff officer fighter branch in the Pentagon. As commander of the 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, they won 11 awards and letters of commendation for flying safety and combat readiness. In 1956 it was the No. 2 unit of all Air National Guard units. His personal commendations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two clusters, District of Columbia Faithful Service Award, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Award and numerous other awards and theatre ribbons. In 1976 after traveling the world as a pilot, Bob returned to Garrett County and became Broker/Owner of Lakeside Realty & Development Co. He retired from the Air Force in 1988, but he continued to enjoy flying privately. His personal time was spent with family and friends while enjoying golfing, hunting, fishing and boating on Deep Creek in his Lakeside Realty "Sale" Boat. Bob's love of life and gregarious personality will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Vava (Helbig) Railey; three daughters, Kathy Gibson & husband Jim of Deep Creek Lake, MD, Debbie Recker & husband Jim of Bethel Park, PA, Roberta McNamara and husband John of Frederick, MD; eight grandchildren, Eric Recker and wife Jaimee, Todd Gibson and wife Michelle, Beau Gibson and wife Katie, Dustin Hurley and wife Kristen Williams, Bryan Recker, Krista Hurley, Josh Recker and fiancee Laura Pinter and Sean McNamara, seven great grandchildren, Vava, Ella and Leo Recker, Sophie Gibson, Clark Gibson, Mahlon and Cameron Hurley; and a brother, Charles "Bud" Railey of Bridgeport, WV. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Clark Railey, Helen Hinebaugh, Earle Railey, Mary Ruth Bittinger, Marjorie Hamill and James Railey. The family will receive friends at the C & S Fredlock Funeral Home, P.A., 21 N 2nd St., Oakland on Tuesday, March 31st from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday, April 1st at 11 AM with Rev. Dr. Chip Lee officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow in the Garrett County Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Garrett County or the American Legion Scholarship Fund. www.csfredlockfh.com

Charitable donations may be made to:

American Legion Scholarship Fund

PO Box 492, Oakland MD 21550

Hopsice of Garrett County

PO Box 271, Oakland MD 21550

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