Robert (Bob) Cribley

Robert (Bob) Cribley, Lt. Col (Ret.), 89, of Valdosta, died on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at his residence. Born in Warren, OH to the late Clifford James & Hilda Marie Rantimake Cribley, he had lived in this area for the past 7 years. Bob joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944 and was a navigator on a B-17 and was stationed at Molesworth Cambridgeshire, England- 303rd Bombardment Group (H) "Hell's Angels" Combat Team, 360th Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force, WWII. He became a pilot in 1948. That year the U.S. Army Air Corp became the U.S. Air Force, a separate branch of the service. After pilot training, he flew many different Bomber aircraft including B-24s, B-25s and B-27s as well as others. During the Korean Conflict, Bob flew the Airlift, taking troops over and bringing wounded back until 1953. When the Conflict was over, he qualified for the B-47s, which he flew from 1955 to 1960. In 1961, Bob qualified to fly the B-52s and in 1963 he was deployed to Homestead AFB in South Florida during the Cuba Missile Crisis. Bob's last aircraft was the B-52s. He Flew the B-52 out of Loring AFB during the Cold War with Russia. Bob retired in 1965 from the U.S. Air Force after 22 years of service.
After Bob's retirement from the Air Force, he became an education specialist for the U.S. Naval Training Device Center in Orlando, FL. He received several superior and outstanding awards during this time and worked with the United Nations overseas. From 1976 until 1988, Bob was the chairman of the Air Force Academy Selection Committee for FLS 11th Congressional District. He first worked with Congressman Bill Frey and then Congressman Bill Nelson. Bob retired from the Navy in January 1988 after 21 years of service.
Mr. Cribley was a member of Lake Park United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Roselle Bartlett Cribley of Valdosta; five daughters, Elizabeth Stephanie Angel and her husband, James Van Liere of Sherman, CT, Candice Ann Carnley of Tallahassee, FL, Barbara Lynn Oliker and her husband Steve Oliker of Manhattan Beach, CA, Michelle Marie Keir and her husband Chuck Keir of Alachua, FL, and Heidi Suzanne Carlman of Ocala, FL. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Jon (Jennifer) Sandstrom, Ryan Angel, Madeleine Kelley, John Kelley, William Kelley and Kady Oliker and two great grandsons, Chase and Cade Sandstrom. He is preceded in death by his parents in law, Morris & Vi Bartlett.
A funeral service for Mr. Cribley will be held at 3 p.m., on Friday October 18, 2013 at Lake Park United Methodist Church. Rev. Wayne Anthony and Rev. Richard Trawick will officiate. Burial will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens with Military Honors. The family will receive friends at McLane Lakewood Funeral Home in Lake Park from 5 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2013. The pallbearers at the church will be Ben & Jen Bartlett, Joe Bartlett, Jim Van Liere, Steve Oliker, Chuck Keir, John Kelley and Will Kelley. The Honorary Pallbearers will be Stan Bartlett, Syd Bartlett, Joe Scarborough, Jimmy Schluraff, James Mc Mullen, Bill McGraw and Tim Strzelczyk. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lake Park United Methodist Church, Hospice of South Georgia or the House of Hero's. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.McLaneCares.com McLane Lakewood Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602