Robert McClain

I leave behind the love of my life, my best and loyal friend, my beautiful wife, Terri. I am proud of my family. My four sons: Bobby, Walt, Zach and Jon; two grandsons: Derek and Ethan; my mother, sisters, brothers and daughters-in-law. I was truly blessed.” Love Bob, Dad, Grandpa Bob passed away on Friday, January 4, 2013 at home, surrounded by family. Bob was born on September 14, 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona. Living in six different states during his early years, he graduated from Will Rogers High School, Tulsa, OK in 1965. He went to Northwestern Oklahoma State College, Tahlequah, Oklahoma for a semester. Due to an illness during that semester, he was forced to drop a class changing his student status to part-time and ending his student-exemption from the draft. When the draft notice arrived in 1966 Bob’s dad, Walter, called some old friends in the US Air Force who enabled Bob to voluntarily enlist in the Air Force prior to his draft report date for the Army. Bob’s military career began with Basic Training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas then Air Traffic Control school. He was stationed at bases in the US, Japan and Korea, transferring to Korea in 1968 during the Pueblo incident when the North Koreans captured the US Naval ship and crew. Although in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, Bob never served there. He tried to get transferred to Saigon several times, wanting to be at the busiest airport tower in the world at the time. Leaving the Air Force in 1973, Bob was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Air Traffic Controller with his first assignment in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During his 29-years with the FAA he worked at airports in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. Bob was transferred to Stapleton Airport in 1988. As the new Denver airport was planned, Bob was part of the Tower Planning Committee for DIA. With the planning complete, Bob started his first shift at midnight. He was the supervisor-in-charge when the first planes landed and took off at DIA on February 27, 1995. He ended his government career on September 30, 2002 after 36 years and 2 months of combined military and civilian service. Bob’s first son Bobby (1970) was born in Oklahoma while Bob was in Korea. Walt (1983) and Zach (1985) were born in Houston, TX. Bob’s stepson Jon “picked” Bob for Terri in 2000 during a high school basketball game that Walt and Zach were playing in. On July 5, 2001 Bob, Walt and Zach married Terri and Jon. During Christmas vacation that same year, the new family went to visit Bobby in Florida. Bob, Terri, their four sons and grandson Derek spent time together at Disney World, Sea World and the beach! In the summer of 2006 Bob, Terri, Walt, Zach and Jon took another vacation to Florida to hang out with Bobby and new grandson Ethan. In their years together, Bob and Terri enjoyed hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. Bob battled cancer heroically with God’s miracles for nine years. He received the ultimate healing from Jesus when he was called home to be with God. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society The LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. During his bout with multiple myeloma, Bob received special contributions from the LLS, which helped him access revolutionary treatment. If you’d like to contribute to the LLS as they continue the search for a cure and help other patients currently battling blood cancer, you can make a donation in Bob’s name via phone or mail. Please send checks to: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 720 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 500-S Denver, CO 80246 To donate by phone, please call 720-440-8620.