Robert Leroy Conrey

Robert Leroy Conrey Lt. Col. Robert L. Conrey (ret.) of Universal City, TX, formerly of Fort Clark Springs, TX, peacefully went home on April 7, 2016. He was 91 years old. Born in Grand Junction, Colorado, on May 17, 1924, he was the son of Stephen L. Conrey and Minna Cathcart Conrey. He graduated from Yuma High School in Yuma, Colorado, and attended Colorado A&M. In 1944, he left classes at Colorado A&M in order to join the Army Air Corp during World War II. While in flight training at Hondo, TX, he raised enough extra money to bring his fiance, Cathryn Carrie Carpenter, down from Yuma to join him. They were married at the Methodist Parsonage in Harlingen, TX, on June 24, 1944. He trained and served as a navigator/bombardier. After the war ended, he went back to college but couldn't stay away from the sound of airplanes. He went back in to the Air Force as a navigator/bombardier. He reached his ultimate goal to become a fighter pilot in 1949 Class 49C. His career took him and his growing family to Hamilton Air Force Base, CA for flight training; Landstuhl, Germany in the F-86D with the 496th FIS; Rome, NY; Chicago, IL, where he earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Chicago; out to George AFB at Victorville, CA, where he was Inspector General for the base; Ubon, Thailand with the 433rd FIS in the F-4 during the Vietnam War; back to George AFB; to Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, to join the Inspector General Team for the Far East; and back to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, where he finished his career. Over his whole career, he qualified in 26 airplanes of all kinds and as an instructor in 17. He and Cathie retired in San Antonio, though Bob kept busy working at the Post office for a while, test-driving cars, and teaching Business Administration at San Antonio College. Eventually they moved to "the country" at Fort Clark Springs, Brackettville, TX, where he was very active in the Fort Clark Gun Club, The Daedalions, and served on the Fort Clark Springs Board of Directors. He also taught Business Administration at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde. Bob and Cathie were very active at the Brackettville United Methodist Church, where Cathie was the Organist for several years. Cathie passed away on November 24, 2009. Bob stayed at Fort Clark Springs until 2014 when he moved into San Antonio to Assisted Living. He loved God, his family, flying anything - but jet fighters in particular, shooting, hunting, fishing, and travel. He was a Champion Skeet Shooter winning several titles over the years, a life member of the NRA, and founding member of Whittington Center. He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen L. Conrey and Minna Cathcart Conrey; his wife, Cathryn Carrie Carpenter Conrey; and two grandchildren Patrick Conrey and Stephen Leroy Conrey. He is survived by his sister, Mrs. Jeanne Conrey Brady of Milton Freewater, Oregon; five children Gail Conrey Chapel of Ridgely, MD; Lynda Conrey Conlin of Fort Clark Springs, TX; David Conrey of Seguin, TX; Barbara Conrey Marrou of Universal City, TX; and Neal Conrey of Fort Clark Springs, TX; ten grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Two of his grandsons followed him into careers in the military. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Brackettville, TX, on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at 11am, with reception at the Fellowship Hall to follow. A final interment service will be held at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX on Monday, May 2, 2016, at 10am. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 109 James St, Brackettville, TX 78832, or to the MAPS Air Museum Endowment Fund, Akron Community Foundation, 345 W. Cedar St., Akron, OH 44307, or your favorite charity. Cards may be sent to The Conrey Family, 8534 Odyssey, Universal City, TX 78148.