U.S. Air Force Ret. "Bob" Maj. Robert K. Mckenzie

Robert K. McKenzie Jr. "Bob", of Abbeville SC passed away peacefully May 7, 2011 surrounded by his family. He was loved by his wife of 57 years Novella, daughters Karen Gerber, husband Charles; Kandace Hill, husband Brian; Lou Cinda Jarratt, husband Daniel; a brother Kemp McKenzie and eight grandchildren, Matthew, Justin, McKenzie, Edward, Tyler, Chelsea, Katilin and Rebekah and many friends. He was born and raised in Abbeville South Carolina on February 25, 1925, the son of the late Robert and Bernice McKenzie. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Gerber, and a sister, Marie McDonald. Bob was a WWII B24 pilot and after the war attended Georgia Tech University where he was president of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, in Atlanta. After graduation, he rejoined the Air Force and proudly served for 26 years. Bob met his wife, Novella, in Atlanta and they were married in Miami, Florida at Riverside Baptist Church in 1954. Once retired from the Air Force, they moved to Miami and Bob was employed as a manager for Southern Bell where he retired in 1983. He and Novella moved back to Abbeville and restored the house where he grew up. Then, they traveled all over the country he so loved visiting friends and family. Bob was an avid golfer and a member of Hunters Creek Country Club in Greenwood SC and actively played well until 2006. A memorial service will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, May 13, 2011 in the Harris Funeral Home Chapel with full military honors. Inurnment will follow this summer in Arlington National Cemetery where valor proudly sleeps. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in his memory be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Conway Shirley, PO Box 566, Due West, SC 29639. A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com HARRIS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES is assisting the McKenzie family.