Robert F. Pipes

He was born December 24, 1918, in Frankston, Texas. He passed from this life January 1, 2016, in Terrell, Texas. Robert Felton and his family moved to Dallas in the early 1920s where he attended Obadiah Knight Elementary School, Crozier Tech high School and St. Joseph's High School, graduating from the latter in 1938. The next year, he entered the military. During his career, Robert Felton served in the 112th Cavalry, the 8th Air Force of the U.S. Army Air Corps, the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard. His military career spanned nearly three decades: twenty-one years active duty and the remainder in the Air National Guard. He achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. Robert Felton's awards include: the Purple Heart; the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and numerous other decorations.

After leaving the military, Robert Felton worked as a jet engine mechanic at Dallas Airmotive and Solar Turbines, Inc. In his retirement, he served on the board of the Fort Sill Historical Association. Additionally, Robert Felton authored a book chronicling his experiences in WWII titled, "The Playboy Crew 1943-1944: The Men of B-24 Liberator 41-29399" and spent several summers in Arizona assisting the Apache Indian reservation forest firefighting team at Point of Pines.

Robert Felton is predeceded by: his wife, Betty Pauline Pipes; parents, John Willie and Elizabeth Pips; and siblings, Cecil Gordon Pipes, Berniece Elizabeth Webb, Frank Smith Pipes, John Morris Pipes and Ruby Mae Boothman. He is survived by: his sons, Robert Frank (Marilyn) Pipes, Brian Alan (Debi) Pipes; his daughter Melissa Lusara Pipes-Spencer and her fiancé Steve Cox; stepson, Jim (Gina) Howell; his three grandchildren, Daniel Felton Pipes, Molly Sloan Pipes and Robert Ryan Spencer; one great-grandchild, Sawyer James Hartley; sister, Edith Ann Early; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Robert Felton will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, Robert Felton requested that a donation be made to The Wounded Warrior Project or The Freedom Alliance.

Funeral services will be at 12 Noon on Thursday, January 7, 2016 in the Chapel of Calvary Hill Funeral Home. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the funeral service at Calvary Hill Cemetery.