Price, Robert 'Bob' Carl

Robert “Bob” Carl Price passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, July 20, 2013. A celebration of Bob's life will be held at the Galena United Methodist Church in Galena, Ill., on Thursday, July 25. Friends who wish to greet Bob's family may call at the church beginning at 10 a.m. The service, including Masonic rites, will begin at 11 a.m. A light luncheon will follow in the church social hall. Burial will be at a later time. The Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena is assisting the family.

Bob was born on Sept. 22, 1928, to Helen Marie Shuster and Abner Carl Price in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He went to Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids and graduated from Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. Bob attended Coe College as a freshman and then transferred to the University of Iowa to study civil engineering. He served in two branches of the armed services, joining the Navy in 1945 and the Air Force in 1951. In the Air Force he was a fighter pilot with the 52-A squadron during the Korean War. His favorite aircrafts were the F-94 and the B-25.

Bob was among the first cadre of air force pilots to enter the commercial airline industry, hired by United Airlines in 1955. Shortly thereafter, he met and married Charlene Buran, a United Airlines stewardess. Bob flew for United for 33 years, with type ratings on the VC-700, VC-800, DC-6 (his favorite), DC-7, DC-8, DC-10, CV-240, CV-340, CV-440, B-707, B-720, B-727, B-737 and B-747. He retired in 1988.

He was a member of the Galena Elks B.P.O.E. 882, the V.F.W. and the Galena United Methodist Church, as well as a longtime member of the Masonic Lodge and Rotary International. Bob loved spending time with his family, traveling, golfing, hot air ballooning, singing as a member of the church choir, performing as a soloist and making custom golf clubs.

Bob is survived by his wife, Charlene; his son, Erik Charles Price; daughters, Serena Price Wiltshire and Kristina Price Vourax; and grandchildren, Erika Christine Price, Thomas Robert Wiltshire, William Davis Wiltshire, Ethan Charles Price, Kristina Marie Wiltshire, Peter Mitchell Vourax and Payton Britt Vourax.

Contributions in Bob's memory can be made to the Galena United Methodist Church, 125 S. Bench St., Galena, IL 61036; the Hospice of Dubuque, 1670 JFK Rd., Dubuque, IA 52002; the Wounded Warrior Project; or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be left at .

Published in The Gazette July 23, 2013.