“Val completed combat tours in Viet Nam in 1965 and 1968 and was responsible for over 200 close air support combat missions, one of which included having to eject out of a flaming plane. During a distinguished career, Val received numerous awards which included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, six Air Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnamese Service medal with 5 battle stars.
Val retired in 1977 as a Lieutenant Colonel and moved to Hearne, TX” with his wife Billy Lou. (1)
Source: (1) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149663211/valden-lamar-robertson
Valden L. “Val” Robertson, LtCol USAF, Ret., “Headed West” on January 21, 2019.
Valden Lamar Robertson, 85, passed away on January 21, 2019, in Bryan, Texas. Services [were held on] January 26, at the Memorial Funeral Home, 802 S. Market Street in Hearne with Reverend Gary Adams officiating.
Known to his friends as Val, he was born on July 29, 1933 in La Grange, Wyoming. The son of Charles and Helen Robertson, Val grew up in a small community of about 150 people. An accomplished athlete who excelled in basketball, track and field, Val attended Chadron State Teachers College in Nebraska on an athletics scholarship.
Val finished his first year of college and decided that he wanted to serve his country. Inspired at a young age by an uncle who had served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, Val enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 1953. After completing a series of schools, Val reported in August 1954 for basic flight training and officer candidate school at Bryan Air Force Base.
The first 12 months in the Bryan area were especially noteworthy as Val was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, qualified as a pilot and met his wife, Billie Lou Stanley of Hearne. Val and Billie were married May 21, 1955, in Calvary Baptist Church in Hearne and enjoyed a happy and eventful life together for 53 years.
Val and Billie spent 25 years in the U.S. Air Force and made ten different moves during that time. The locations varied from the exotic, Spain, to the historic, Washington D.C. Along the way, they welcomed two children, Steven Mark and Lori Ann.
Val completed combat tours in Viet Nam in 1965 and 1968 and was responsible for over 200 close air support combat missions, one of which included having to eject out of a flaming plane. During a distinguished career, Val received numerous awards which included the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, six Air Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnamese Service medal with 5 battle stars.
Val retired in 1977 as a Lieutenant Colonel and moved to Hearne where he became involved in community service as first, the Executive Director for the Hearne Housing Authority and later as the City Manager. Val and Billie spent much of their free time traveling around Central Texas participating in Square Dancing events with their many friends.
Up to his last days, Val could be seen still dancing in the hallways to the tunes of the Big Band era. As one friend commented, Val is now dancing off to Heaven. Billie passed away in 2008 and Val has gone to join her as one can only imagine the two of them dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Val and Billie are survived by Steve and Palmira Robertson of McGregor, Lori and Rick Westbrook of College Station; and their four grandchildren, John and Marisol Robertson and Brent and Madison Westbrook.
Honorary Pallbearers are Steve Robertson, John Robertson, Rick Westbrook, Brent Westbrook, Joe Moore Jr., Daryl Hamilton and Stanley Bishop.
