Robert Gaines, Jr

Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hamelin Gaines, Jr., USAF (retired), departed this world to be with our Lord and Savior on July 26, 2014. Bob was born in Mobile, Alabama, on September 22, 1927. He was happily married to the late Mary Y. Gaines for almost 56 years. They had four children, Gaye Gaines Miller and her husband, Mike, of Pensacola, Florida, Robin Gaines Lambert of Pensacola, Florida, Robert H. Gaines, III, of Plano, Texas and Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A. Gaines, USAF (retired), and his wife, Donna, of Lithia, Florida. He is also survived by his sister, Eleanor Wells and her husband, Ted, of Temple Terrace, Florida, and three grandchildren: Angela Fleming of Pensacola, Florida, and Taylor and Austin Gaines of Lithia, Florida. Upon graduation from Pensacola High School in 1945, he played football at Vanderbilt University and the University of Miami (FL), culminating his college football career in the 1951 Orange Bowl. During the two-year period between Vanderbilt and Miami, Bob served in the U.S. Army as a member of the occupation force in Korea. Upon his return to the United States and his graduation from Miami, he continued to serve our nation as a command pilot in the United States Air Force, seeing action in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was awarded the Bronze Star and numerous other medals for his service to our nation. After retiring from the Air Force, he taught at B.T. Washington High School in Pensacola for more than 20 years. Bob was also very active at the First United Methodist Church of Pensacola where he was a long-time member of the Sanctuary Choir and the New Life Sunday School class. He was excellent at cross-stitching, intricately completing many patterns that now hang on the walls of family and friends. Bob was an avid golfer at the Tiger Point Golf Club where he loved spending time with his friends and neighbors. Visitation will be held at the Rose Lawn Funeral Home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, from 3 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 3, 2014. There will be a funeral service at the First United Methodist Church of Pensacola at 10:00 AM on Monday, August 4, 2014, followed by a private burial service at Fort Barrancas National Cemetery. We would like to thank the staff and congregation of the First United Methodist Church for their support and guidance during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the Living Trust at the First United Methodist Church, 6 East Wright Street, Pensacola, FL 32501 or Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504. Bob was deeply loved by his family and friends. We will all miss him dearly.

Visitation

Visitation & Viewing

Rose Lawn Funeral Home
2942 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL  32563
Sunday, August 3, 2014
3:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

First United Methodist Church
6 E. Wright Street
Pensacola, FL  32501
Monday, August 4, 2014
10:00 AM

Cemetery

Private Burial

Barrancas National Cemetery
One Cemetery Road
Pensacola, FL