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Obituary : Robert A. Sturgeon |
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Robert A. Sturgeon Resident of Foster City March 27, 1923 - June 21, 2008 Robert
Andrew Sturgeon, 85, of Foster City, died on June 21, 2008. He was born in
Kansas City, Missouri living there for five years. Then his family moved to a
farm near Centralia, MO, and stayed until the fall of 1936. They went to
California, settling in Oakland where he attended various schools and was
graduated from Castlemont High School in 1941. He attended UC Berkeley where he
enlisted in the Army Air Corps in November of 1942. He was called to active duty
in March of 1943 and spent time training for pilot duty at Lincoln Air Base, NE,
and at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. This was followed by training
assignment in Santa Ana, Tulare, and Bakersfield, CA. He finished his advanced
training at Douglas Air Force Base in Arizona at the completion of which he was
commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his wings. He then attended
instructor training at Randolph Field, TX, and after a short stint, as an
instructor at Fort Sumner, NM, was assigned to a replacement squadron in
Karachi, India. He was sent from there to Dinjan, Assam, India as co-pilot in
the 2nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 349th Troop Carrier Group of the 10th Air Force.
Shortly thereafter, his unit was transferred to Shingbwiyang, Burma. During his
tour at these two places he flew both air drop and forward air field landing
supply missions in Douglas C-47s to the front line troops, mainly Merrill's
Marauders and the Mars Task Force in northern and central Burma. He served as
co-pilot, pilot, instrument check pilot and flight leader prior to his return
home in May, 1945. He was awarded the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and
the Distinguished Flying Cross with two clusters. His unit was also awarded two
battle stars. He completed over four hundred combat missions and returned as
first lieutenant. Had he volunteered to stay in Burma for three more weeks, he
would have been made a captain. He declined the opportunity. He returned to UC
Berkeley in 1947 and graduated in January, 1949 at which time he was employed by
Pacific Telephone and spent the next 31 years in various departments and
locations in Northern CA as well as two years with AT&T in Manhattan. He
retired in 1980. He is survived by his wife Maureen Kemp Sturgeon whom he
constantly referred to as the best woman who ever lived; his daughter Maureen of
Ukiah; brother-in-law, Lloyd Houghtelling of San Leandro and many nieces and
nephews. His daughter, Andrea Gail Sturgeon, predeceased him in 1959. No
services were held. The family would prefer donations to Samaritan House in San
Mateo in lieu of flowers, etc.
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