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Lt. Col. Robert H. Price (USAF retired), 83, born October 20, 1919 in Lawrence, Kansas, died April 23, 2003 in Chandler, Arizona. A Funeral Service will be held at the Berardinelli Funeral Home in Santa Fe, New Mexico at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2003 followed by an Interment Service at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Mr. Price graduated from the University of Kansas in 1941 and spent the next 27 years in the Army Air Corps/U. S. Air Force, starting as a Glider Pilot in World War II where he earned distinction as the only Glider Pilot to destroy a German anti-aircraft gun emplacement by landing his glider on top of the gunpit while it was attempting to shoot down other aircraft in his formation. He later transitioned to powered flight, piloting various Air Force aircraft to include a combat tour flying the B-26 aircraft in the Korean War. His military decorations include the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal. He retired from the military in 1968 as a Lieutenant Colonel and spent the next 25 years in Albuquerque, New Mexico followed by ten years in Chandler, Arizona. He was married for over 48 years to Ruth (Rodgers) Price who preceded him in death in 1990. They raised two sons, Colonel Robert H. Price Jr.(USAF retired) of Anchorage, Alaska and Commander Stephen R. Price (USN retired) of Silverdale, Washington; grandchildren, are Susan Davis of Colorado Springs, Major Robert H. Price III of Anchorage, and Eric Price of Silverdale, Washington; and four great-grandchildren, Ryan, Brendan, Evan, and Megan Davis with a fifth great-grandson, Nicholas Robert Price due in June. He was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman and raised his sons accordingly. Several times he was the Southwestern Field Archery Champion and New Mexico State Field Archery Champion and enjoyed any chance he could get to go hunting or fishing, whether in New Mexico with friends or Alaska or Washington with his sons and grandsons. He spent his final years in Chandler, Arizona with his wife, Geri, who made a wonderful home for him in his later years. He will be missed by his many family and friends and remembered as a kind man, a staunch patriot, and someone with unwaivering convictions. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary, 143 W. Vaughn Ave., Gilbert, AZ 85234.
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