Robert E. Boots

Bob Boots went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, after a brief illness. He had celebrated his 94th birthday just one month ago, and we are all very grateful for his long life and for his many years of service to God, his family, and to our country. Bob was born on August 19, 1921, in Welda, Kansas, the son of Claude and Rozella (Landis) Boots. He grew up working on the family farm. Bob attended Welda High School and was a standout athlete in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He enrolled at the University of Kansas and played on the university football team until the outbreak of World War II. Bob left college to join the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. While training at Washington University in St. Louis, he met his future wife, Eileen. Bob graduated from pilot training in 1943 and deployed to England as part of the 438th Troop Carrier Group. He flew numerous combat missions, including air dropping the 82nd Airborne behind enemy lines during the Normandy invasion. Bob was awarded the air Medal of Valor and was promoted to Captain before the end of the war in 1945. Bob returned from the war and married Eileen Cunningham in 1945. He served as pilot in the elite Presidential Support Group in Washington, D.C. during which time he and Eileen had their first son, Mike, in 1946. Bob left active service and began farming in Garnett, Kansas, while remaining in the Air Force Reserves. In 1949, their second son, Randy, was born. Bob returned to Active Duty in 1953 when he was recalled for the Korean War. The war ended before he was sent to combat, and after a tour at Smokey Hill AFB in Salina, Kansas, he was selected for training in the new B-47 Stratojet. While Bob was training in the B-47, Bob's third son, Mark, was born in Waco, Texas, in 1955. The B-47 was to be our nation's frontline defense during the early years of the Cold War, and in 1955, Bob was assigned to Walker AFB, New Mexico, to the famous 509th Bomb Wing (the unit that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan). Bob became an aircraft commander and deployed numerous times to England, Europe, and North Africa to sit on alert during times of high tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1958, the 509th moved from New Mexico to Pease AFB, New Hampshire, where Bob, Eileen and their family would spend the next eight years. Daughter Elisa was born there in 1960. Bob would continue to excel as a pilot and received prestigious "spot promotions" to Major and Lt. Col. He served as the Stan/Eval check pilot for the Wing until the Viet Nam War began. Bob served in Viet Nam in 1967 and 1968, flying the C-130 Hercules out of Mactan AFB in the Philippines. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his major role in planning and leading the rescue of the Marines trapped at Khe Sanh. While still in Viet Nam, tragedy struck the family when son Randy was drowned while trying to rescue the family dog from raging flood waters of Cedar Creek in Garnett. After his tour in Viet Nam and a tour at Forbes AFB in Topeka, Bob retired in 1970 from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. with 28 years of active service and returned to Garnett to start a successful hog and cattle business, Rocky Ridge Farms. Eileen became ill in 1984 and passed away in April of that year. Bob began a new chapter in his life when he and Estella "Toots" Watt were married in 1985. Bob soon retired from farming. He became involved in serving the City of Garnett on the city council. He was on the city commission from 1985 through 1990, during which time he was Mayor from 1987 to 1989. During his tenure, many improvements were made to the city infrastructure and recreational areas. Bob was an active member of the United Methodist Church, serving in many leadership positions, but also could be found mowing or watering at the church on many occasions. Bob and Toots served freely of their time at the Senior Center in Garnett and delivered Meals on Wheels in past years. Bob was not only an inspiration to his own children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, but was a second father and grandfather to Toots' children, John, Julie, Beth, and Mary, who are grateful for his devotion and influence upon them and their children. Between his family with Eileen and Toots' family, Bob is survived by seven children, Mike and Cheryl Boots of Wyndham, NH, Mark and Cathy Boots of Dallas, TX, Elisa and Mike Mullins of Meriden, KS, John and Susan Watt of Wamego, KS, Julie McNall of Lawrence, Kansas, Beth Anderson of Garnett, KS, and Mary Koch and Dennis Hastert, Jr. of Garnett, KS; 18 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Bob is also survived by his two sisters, Wilma Berggren of Stromsburg, NE, and Patricia Horner of Tulsa, OK. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen Boots; son, Randy Boots; sister, Norma Benjamin; brother, Jim Boots; son-in-law, Steve Koch; and granddaughter, Sarah Watt. Serving others was always the hallmark of Bob's life. He has now "slipped the surly bonds of Earth" and gone to be with his Lord and Savior. Until we see him again he will live on in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him here on Earth. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Monday, September 21, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church, Garnett, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Garnett Cemetery, Garnett, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM, Sunday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .