Bobbie Gene Fluharty

SMSGT. Bobbie G. Fluharty, U.S.A.F. Ret., 84 of Vienna, W.Va. passed away Jan. 8, 2016 at his residence. He was born Dec. 28, 1931 in Mannington, W.Va., a son of the late Lee Roy and Mabel Gertrude Clovis Fluharty. Bobbie was a 1951 graduate of Mannington High School and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952. He was a Korean War veteran and was retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant after 34 years of serving his country. During this time he served with the regular Air Force, the Air Force Reserve and the WV Air National Guard. His Air Force career field specialties were as a ground radio operator, an airborne communications technician, an aircrew flight mechanic and a flight engineer with over 5,000 hours flying time. He also retired from the Hope Natural Gas Co. in Parkersburg. Bobbie was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8127 of Vienna, Associate member of the “Friends” of the United States Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio, the Air Force Association, the Air Force Sergeants Association, life member of the NRA, charter member of the National WWII Museum, in New Orleans, LA and a founding member of the “American Air Museum in Britain” at Duxford, England. He also held a FCC Amateur Radio license, call sign, K8EP1. He is survived by two daughters, Darlene F. Samuels and Donna M. Fluharty, both of Sarasota, FL; two grandchildren, Jessica Englehard of Newport, NC and Dustin Fluharty of Parkersburg, WV. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Barbara M. (Stewart) Fluharty; his son, Randolph B. Fluharty; his brother and wife, Francis L. and Edith Fluharty; and granddaughter, Gayla Dawn Samuels. Graveside service will be at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Pruntytown, W.Va. at the convenience of the family. Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, 3005 Grand Central Ave. Vienna, W.Va. 26105 is honored to serve this veteran's family. In lieu of flowers, the family request s that donations be made to The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright Patterson Air Force Base 1100 Spaatz St. Dayton, OH 45433.