Robert C. Chambers, 93, of the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, Quarryville, PA entered eternal rest on Wednesday, October 21, 2015. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Robert was the only son of the late Wallace and Frances (Schneider) Chambers, and the devoted husband of the late Janet Grott Chambers. Known by his nickname “Bob,” he grew up in Queens Village, NY, and met Janet at nearby Bellerose Baptist Church where they were married in 1944, the beginning of over 70 happy years together. Bob’s illustrious career in service to his country began when he was accepted as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps in 1943, successfully earning his commission as an officer and his pilot wings. Lieutenant Chambers flew 36 combat missions in the European theater of World War II as the pilot of the A-20 attack bomber, key to the successful advance of the US Army across Europe in late 1944 and early 1945. After the war, Bob and Janet settled in the New York metropolitan area where he worked as a salesman for heating and air conditioning companies as well as a guardsman (part-time) instructor pilot in the New York Air National Guard (NYANG), raising a family and becoming active in church and community leadership. Bob was eventually chosen to fulfill full-time roles as instructor pilot and Director of Operations in the New York Air National Guard serving in the unit stationed at Schenectady County Airport, in NYANG Headquarters, and in the unit stationed at Westchester County Airport. His military career culminated in his service as Commander of an Air National Guard Wing consisting of Tactical Air Support units in three states and Base Commander at New York’s Westchester County Airport. He retired in 1976 at the rank of Colonel, US Air Force. Bob’s role as an aviator continued as he served for another 20 years as a pilot, salesman, and flying coordinator for a number of general aviation-related organizations in Kansas and New York. His flying career spanned 6 decades, accumulating over 11,000 flight hours in dozens of different aircraft types, flying to nearly every corner of the globe. Bob also served in a variety of leadership roles in his community and his church. For example, he served as a founding member and Vice President of the Board of Mount Pleasant School District in Westchester County, NY, helping lead the construction of new schools and the consolidation of one of the first centralized public school districts in the New York City suburbs. He also served faithfully for many years as Chairman of the Board of Deacons and Treasurer for First Baptist Church in Tarrytown, NY and as Trustee and Treasurer for First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Schenectady, NY.
Among all his roles, most important was his role as a faithful and Godly husband and father, and he was deeply grateful for and most proud of his family and their achievements. He is survived by his four children: Robert, husband of Diana Chambers, of Fishersville, VA; Bruce, husband of Janet Chambers, of Malvern, PA; Barbara, wife of Paul Morrison, of Webster, NY; and William, husband of Bonnie Chambers, of Clifton, VA. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. A viewing will take place at Dewald Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 227 West Fourth Street, Quarryville, PA 17566 on Sunday, November 1st at 12:30 PM. A Memorial Service will follow in the Ellingsworth Auditorium of the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, 625 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville, PA at 2:00 PM. Interment will be with Full Military Honors in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions are requested for the Q.P.R.C. Employee Appreciation Fund at the above address. Online condolences can be provided at www.dewalds.com Comments are closed.
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