WALTER JAMES ROBINSON, JR.

Walter James Robinson, Jr., 84, of Panama City Beach, passed away Monday, November 5, 2007. He was born on October 29, 1923 in Russellville, Alabama and had been a resident of Panama City Beach since 1992. He entered active military service March 1, 1943 and was commissioned June 27, 1943 as a flight officer. He spent his military career as a P-51 fighter pilot. He was attached to the 20th Air Force, 7th Fighter Command, 15th Fighter Group, and 45th Fighter Squadron. He completed several combat missions from Iwo Jima to Japan escorting B-29 bombers. Later his missions were to destroy Japanese kamikaze airplanes threatening the US Navy. He ended his military service in November, 1965 as a Major in the US Air Force Reserve.
He was a professor at Auburn University for many years, a retired airport planner and founder of the Southeastern Airport Managers Association. He is survived by his wife, June Hall Robinson, five children, Samantha Petty and her husband, Greg, of Knoxville, TN, Chuck Robinson, of Paris, TN, Ginger Scott and her husband, Mathew, of Lawrenceville, GA, Denise Robinson, of Youngstown, Jeff Robinson and his wife, Rhonda, of Monroe, GA, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A private family graveside service will be held on Thursday in Gulf Cemetery, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Those desiring may make memorial donations to the Gulf Cemetery Association for the beautification of the cemetery, P.O. Box 1462, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 or to the American Cancer Society.

Wilson Funeral Home