Obituary of U.S. Force Chief Msgt. Robert Perry Ro

COLUMBIA: Funeral services for Robert Perry Roddey, 74, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, October 15, 2012, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, officiated by Pastor Gary Loadholdt. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. prior to service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 525 St. Andrews Rd., Columbia, SC 29210. Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington is assisting the family. Mr. Roddey passed away Tuesday, October 9, 2012. Born in Columbia, SC, he was the son of the late Robert Franklin Roddey and Ella C. Corley Roddey. He was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church. Mr. Roddey was U.S. Air Force Veteran of Vietnam; 289 Combat Mission Flights, which included missions over both Hanoi and Haiphong Harbor. He retired with many commendations. Distinguished Flying Cross w/1 Device; Air Medal, w/13 Devices; Air Force Commendation Metal w/ 1 Device; Distinguished-Presidential Unit Citation; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device; Combat Readiness Medal; Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/6 OLC; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon w/6 OLC; NCO Professional Military Education Grad Ribbon with 1/Device; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was also a Mason, with a lifetime membership award and a Shriner. Mr. Roddey was respected by all he met, there was no better friend. Survivors include his wife, Mary Roddey of Columbia; daughters, Tammie Bowers (David) of Charleston and Lori Sanders (Robert) of Boca Raton, FL; sons, Randy Roddey (Becky) of Enterprise, OR and Jason Roddey of Columbia; 13 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; also aunts, Frances Coleman of Columbia and Sara Ann Roddey of Spartanburg.