Bobby Gene Walls, Lt. Col., US Army (Ret.)

MINERAL WELLS -- Bobby Gene "Bob" Walls. Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army (ret), beloved husband, father and grandfather departed this earthly life on Wednesday, August 10, 2011. Funeral: 10 a.m. Monday in White's Funeral Chapel, 101 N.E. 4th Ave., Mineral Wells. Pastor Joe Chamness will officiate. Col Walls will be interred with full military honors at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the charity of their choice. Col Walls was born Sept. 1, 1932, in Harrisburg, Ill., the son of William Oral and Bertha Marie Walls. Bob married the love of his life Jannett R. Rogers on May 14, 1953, in Hagerstown, Md. Col Wall enlisted in the U S Army January 1951 and retired from the U S Army in 1971 as a Lt. Colonel. His service included Commander Aviation Radio Research Unit in Vietnam; Flight Commander at Fort Wolters; Staff Officer, Combat Development Command, Washington, D.C.; Battalion Commander Helicopter Maintenance Officer in Vietnam. His last assignment was as Director of Communications and Electronics at Fort Wolters . He served one tour in Korea and two tours in Viet Nam as a fixed wing and helicopter pilot. Among his many military awards are the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Metal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Medal of Valor with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Cross of Gallantry with Palm. After his military retirement in 1971 he earned an MBA from Tarleton University and worked in the private sector as a Tax Auditor with Texas Employment Commission, was a business instructor at Weatherford College and Executive Director of Palo Pinto County Transportation Council. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, having served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of Board of Trustees and member of Council of Ministries & Administrative Council. He was a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 5, F. & A.M. in Tombstone, Arizona for 54 years. A paid up for life member of The American Legion, Farris Anderson Post 75. He served in many positions at the local, state and national level, including Commander of Post 75, 17th District Commander, 4th Division Commander and Department of Texas Commander in 2003. In 1998 he was named Texas Legionnaire of the year. In 2002 he was the only Texas Legionnaire inducted into ANAVICUS, the Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada - U. S. Unit. Col Walls served on The American Legion Department of Texas Board of Trustees and The American Legion Department of Texas Foundation.. He was a member of the Past Department Commanders Club, The District Commanders Club and the De GNUTS Club of Texas. Col Walls served three terms as president of The Retired Officers Association, Fort Wolters Chapter. Past President of Military Officers Association of America, Fort Wolters Chapter. Representative to the Texas MOAA Council of Chapters. Member of Friends of the Vietnam Museum, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, U.S. Army Signal Corp. OCS Association, 145th Combat Aviation Battalion Vietnam Association, and the 120TH Aviation Company Association. In addition to Colonel Walls involvement with The American Legion, and military organizations , he served the community in various capacities including serving on the Mineral Wells City Council from 1988-1993. Mayor Pro-tem 1991-1993. Served as Special Advisor to City of Mineral Wells on Rails To Trails from 1993 to 1996. Served as President of the Board of Directors of Public Transit Services; First President of Cross Timbers Trail Blazers, Inc., First Treasurer of Cross Timbers Senior Citizens Task Force; Chartering Director of Keep Mineral Wells Beautiful; President of Palo Pinto Community Service Corporation; Past 1st Vice President of Region Eight, Texas Municipal League; Past member NCTCOG, Airport Adviso