Obituary

October 20, 2015

Robert W. Kitchen

FlagRobert W. Kitchen,  76, formerly of Lincoln and McCook, Neb., passed away on October 19, 2015 in Franklin, Tenn.   Former USAF Pilot, retired PanAm/Delta airline pilot, loving father and husband. Funeral Service at 12:00 noon, on Thurs., Oct. 22, at Wyuka Funeral Home Chapel, 3600 “O” St, Lincoln.  Burial to follow with Military Honors, Wyuka Cemetery.

24 Comments

  1. Flew with Bob many a time @ NAL,PAA, & DAL. What a pleasure he was to work with, at all 3 of the airlines we flew with. A real nice guy, he will be missed. So sorry for your loss, may God heal your hearts with good memories of him.

    Bob Thrasher

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  2. Bob was such a good man and wonderful to fly with at NAL. Anytime the next months bids came out and you saw his name on the “line” you were awarded – you knew it would be a great month of flying and camaraderie. It was such a shame to loose touch after the breakup of National with truly fine gentlemen like Bob. God Bless you Captain Kitchen… have a great flight West. See you soon old friend…

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  3. Bob was one of the good ones, I was blessed as an F/E to be on one of his first trips as a Captain after Pan Am took over. It was a trip to Mex with other stops after which I can not remember because they were not nice places. He could get 110% out of the crew. One to be missed.

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    • Like everyone, I was devastated by the news of Bob Kitchen’s passing.
      Bob and I shared 5 great years in Berlin (85-90) as 2 drops orange in a sea of blue. With our wives, we traveled extensively, and spent many days together which always included good food, beer, and conversation. Bob was the posture boy for an airline pilot….impeccably groomed, good natured, professionally prepared, and among the best at doing his job. Bob was liked by all that met him….loved by those that knew him. Above these wonderful attributes, I admired most his honesty, loyalty, and integrity. Bob Kitchen was a principaled man who always did the RIGHT THING throughout his life and we should selfishly mourn his death because fine men like him are seldom found anymore

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  4. I flew with Bob many many times. It was always a pleasure! He was truly one of the good guys. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

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  5. Another great aviator leaves the formation and takes to the heavens above.

    What a wonderful person. To see him go is truly a great loss to the rest of humanity.

    You leave very fond and vivid memories of new-hire’s class at National Airlines and many more years of ‘flying the line’.

    May God hold you close and give you eternal life.

    And rest in peace, my friend…………

    Trez

    ****************

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  6. I flew with Bob through three airlines! It was always a pleasure to fly with him. Bob’s biggest concern was his CREW and it was always appreciated. He will be missed. As we say in the airline industry…..”Have a great flight”

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  7. Bob was with us briefly in the IGS and was a real pleasure to fly with. Relaxed but professional. He will be missed.

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  8. bob one of my favorite airman to work with. he made going to work a real pleasure and my first airline flying job.bless you

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    • Lee Please send a email, tzstoys@gmail.com Tom Zee also on facebook

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  9. Bob and I never flew together due to our close seniority numbers, but we shared many conversations around the airline crew rooms. Always smiling, professional and a credit to his airline and his fellow employees. Have a great flight west. Sincere condolences to your family.

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  10. Bob was one of my very best fiends for more than 50 years. We met at McDill AFB in Tampa in 1964. We both went to Vietnam in 1966 and came back to Homestead AFB, Florida in 1967-1968. Hired on with National Airlines in January of 1969, became part of PAN AM in 1981. Then we both made transition to Delta Airlines in 1992 and both retired from Delta Airlines.

    Bob Kitchen was always an officer and a gentleman! He always had a smile on his face! And a kind word or in most cases many kind words for every one he met!

    May God bless Captain Bob Kitchen and his lovely wife Barbra and his children and grandchildren.

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  11. God Bless Bob Kitchen, his wife Barbra and his children and grandchildren !!

    I consider Bob one of my very best friends. I have known him for 50 plus years!
    He was always an Officer and Gentleman. Bob always had a smile on his face and a good word for everyone he met.

    I will miss you my friend, God Bless you and keep you!!

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  12. Like everyone else I was devastated to learn of Bob’s passing. He and I spent 5 great years in Berlin from 85-90 as two drops of ” orange in a sea of blue”. We and our wives shared may great times together which normally included good food, beer, and conversation. Bob was the poster boy of an airline pilot….impeccably groomed (not the norm in Berlin),good natured, professionally prepared, and among the best at his job. Bob was liked by all that met him….loved by those that knew him well. In addition to his other attributes, those that I admired the most were his honesty, loyalty, and integrity. Bob always did the right thing throughout his life. I think Bob had it figured out that these are things that really matter in the end. We should all mourn Bob’s death selfishly, because we have lost a fine man the comes along far too seldom and can’t be replaced.

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  13. I was surprised and shocked to learn of Bob’s passing. He was a wonderful man to fly for! He was skilled, knowledgable and a great person. He was also a Veteran, like myself and I had many good times with him. The attributes of honesty and service spring immediately to my mind. Blessings and condolences to his wife and family.

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    • God Bless, Bob, and condolences and support to your wife and family. He was a wonderful man to fly for, and had great values of service, honesty and integrity. He was also fun and a pleasure to fly with and for!

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  14. It is with a heavy heart to hear of Bob’s trip West. I first met him as a neighbor in Kendall, then later in years, he an Barbra took us under their wing in Berlin. He was a true gentleman, and always a pleasure to be with.
    We would like to extend our condolences to Bob’s family, he will be missed by all. Sincerely, Rick and Karren DuPuis

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  15. Bob was always a pleasure to work with. He always left you with a smile on your face . He’s this worlds lose, but heavens gain. God bless Bob and his family.

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  16. I met Bob at MacDill in ’64 and he was one of the few who rose to the top. It was my priviledge to call him friend all these year. RIP my friend, you deserve all the best.

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  17. A dear friend. He was very special to me. Barbra my prayers are with you and your family.

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  18. Hold the course due west, Bob- we’ll be joining up on your starboard wing shortly to fly that perfect leg.

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  19. One of the nicest person I ever met. So sad to hear this.

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  20. I had the pleasure to fly with Bob many times. We had many laughs together. He was an excellent pilot and you could not find anybody that did not enjoy flying with him.Bob thank you for allowing me to be your friend. You will be missed by us all. May God bless you and your family.

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  21. Many of our friends from PAA have gone west.

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