William Robert Bahr Sr.

Montgomery Co., TX - William Robert "Bobby" Bahr, Sr., passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2022 at Methodist The Woodlands Hospital at the age of 98. Before being hospitalized, Bobby was a resident of the The Wellington at Conroe assisted living facility for the past two years. He was born in 1924, in Tela, Atlantida, Honduras, to William A. Bahr and Marie Coleman. He was the eldest of his four siblings, James Wallace, Anita Indalecia, Marie Elizabeth and John Forrest. Bobby joined the United States Navy and served as an Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class aboard the aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CV-4) during World War II. While serving in the Navy he became a naturalized citizen in the Superior Court of California in San Diego. When the war ended, Bobby attended Perkinston Junior College in Mississippi and Tulane University. After returning to his native country of Honduras, he fulfilled his dream of marrying the love of his life, Dolores Antonia Caraccioli-Estrada, “Lolita”, and moving to the United States to raise a family. Bobby also completed Louisiana’s Steamfitting (Refrigeration) Apprenticeship program while working for York Corporation. This led to a career spanning more than six decades in the Refrigeration Industry which included specialization in Ammonia, Food Processing, and Petroleum Chemical Systems. His milestones included a position as Vice President of Application & Sales with Dick Patch Industries, Inc. supporting such companies as ConAgra Foods (Vlasic Pickles) and Borden, Inc. Bobby also worked for many years at RealCold Maintenance Systems, Inc. helping to design and produce unique products for the refrigeration industry, finally retiring in 2005. In his spare time, Bobby actively pursued his lifelong passion for aviation. Ever since his childhood, growing up in Honduras, he had wanted to become a pilot after flying for the first time aboard a Ford Tri-Motor in the early 1930’s. His dreams of one day piloting his own aircraft were further cemented during his wartime service aboard the RANGER observing military flight operations and witnessing the first Navy jet aircraft trials by Ryan FR-1 Fireballs in early 1945. Bobby started taking flying lessons at New Orleans Lakefront Airport in 1952 and earned his pilot’s license in 1953. Soon afterwards, Bobby joined the Louisiana Wing of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) as a Senior Member and held an Aeronautical Rating of Pilot. He completed Command and Staff School and attained the Grade of Captain. He continued to support CAP Missions performing Emergency Services, Search & Rescue, Communications and Cadet Programs well into the 1970s, flying with both the Louisiana and Texas Wings. Bobby owned numerous aircraft during his lifetime starting with his first airplane, a Commonwealth Skyranger, and ending with his last airplane, a Smith Miniplane. In Bobby’s more than six decades in aviation, he served in many leadership positions as a member of Greenfield Flyers, Inc., Chapter 958 Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. and EAA International Aerobatic Club Chapter 31, Inc. Bobby was also a generous supporter of the U.S. Aerobatic Team. Bobby was a member of the San Antonio Accordion Association, The American Legion Alamo Post 2, and Woodland Baptist Church in San Antonio. He was dedicated to his music ministry by entertaining Alzheimer’s residents at Memory Care facilities for over 15 years with his weekly accordion concerts. His music brought joy and life to everyone and he was always happy to play for family and friends at gatherings, parties, and weddings. Bobby loved his family and was so proud of all their accomplishments in their lives. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores Antonia Caraccioli-Estrada, parents and siblings Anita and Wallace. He is survived by siblings Johnny and Betty, three children and spouses, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He will be interred at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, TX at 10 o’clock Thursday, August 25, 2022. A reception will follow at Woodland Baptist Church, 15315 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX. Friends and relatives are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of William R. Bahr to: The American Legion Charities, www.legion.org.

William Robert Bahr Sr.

June 23, 1924 - August 7, 2022