Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Robert Eugene Flora has joined his beloved wife Wanda in heaven on April 19, 2016. Robert was born on Feb. 5, 1931 in Watertown, New York. Bobby was the second youngest of 11 children born to Italian immigrants Sebastian Vona (Frank Flora) and Alphonsina Berardinelli.
Bob's life was dedicated to his family, country and church. He met his one and only love in life, Wanda Ashcroft, on the tennis courts of Thompson Park. They married in 1952 and together they raised 6 children (Roberta, Therese, Mark, Mike, Marci, and Pat), born in 5 different states in 8 years.
Robert earned a BA in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1959. He first became a test pilot, then served as a General's Aide and became a flight instructor. Bob earned his MBA at the University of Southern California in 1965, and began a long, successful career as a Manager on the Air Force's Space Programs. He interrupted this work to serve a year in Vietnam during the war. Bob was decorated with the USAF Air Medal for 325 combat missions.
Upon returning from his tour of duty in Vietnam to Torrance, California he continued work on Manned Space Development programs. While living in Torrance he served on Torrance's Parks and Recreation Commission and became very involved in community service including Rotary and politics. He and Wanda met and developed many wonderful lifelong friendships over the years.
Bob retired from the Air Force at the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1974 while stationed in Colorado Springs CO. Then he settled his family in Saratoga, California to work at ESL Inc., retiring from there in 1993. He served on the Saratoga Parks and Recreation Commission and ran for City Council. He was the Past President of USC Alumni Assoc. in Santa Clara Valley, Past President of Saratoga Rotary, member of South Bay Civil War Roundtable, Knights of Columbus Council 4981, Senior Knight of Portola Assembly 49 and Past president of the Men's Club of Church of the Ascension Catholic Church.