Robert Downie Hemingway entered this life August 30, 1923 in Salt Lake City. At the age of 92, after a brief illness, he passed away October 16, 2015 in Cedar Hills Utah. He was the third of five sons and one daughter born to Franklin George Hemingway and Esther Eugenia Downie. He was five when his parents moved the family to Bakersfield California. This is where he grew up.
He graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1941, the year the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He knew it was inevitable that he would have to go into the service, so he decided not to wait to be drafted. He wanted to be proactive and try to become an aviation cadet. In May of 1942 he took the aviation cadet test, passed it and after training, became a B-17 pilot completing 35 combat missions over Europe. After his military service, in 1945 he served a 2 year mission in the Southern States Mission. It was there he met his future bride, Ula Burgess. They were sealed in the SLC Temple on his 25th birthday, August 30, 1948. To this union 5 children were born. Val Burgess, Jan Tully, Robert Edward, Jill Larsen and David Jeffery. Ula preceded him in death along with his parents, 5 brothers and grandson Cory Larsen.
Bob taught for 27 years at East Bakersfield High School retiring in 1983 and returned to Alpine. He retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Lt. Colonel. He was active in the VFW and did military rites for over two thousand veterans. He served his community of Alpine on the planning committee, designed and built the veterans memorial in the Alpine City Cemetery and the placing of the city flags along Main Street on Holidays. He has served in the LDS church all his life with callings from Bishop to home teacher. He also was very active in Scouting, receiving the Silver Beaver Award.
He leaves a posterity of 22 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren. He was loved and respected by all and will be missed but remembered as a man who loved the Lord and a friend to all.
Funeral will be Saturday, October 24, 2015 11:00 a.m. at the Mountainville Chapel, 165 North 100 East, Alpine, with a viewing 9:30-10:30a.m.. Interment will be in the Alpine City Cemetery. Please share a memory at andersonmortuary.com.