Robert Cecil Timian Obituary (1941 - 2012)

Richard James Timian '66 said:

Robert “Bob” Cecil Timian departed this life quietly and peacefully after a long battle with illness on Monday, January 30, 2012. He was born in Milwaukee, WI on October 7, 1941 and resided in the Oak Creek Community of South Milwaukee. After 1959 graduation from high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin, where he received a degree in art education. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate in ROTC and was commissioned as an Infantry Second Lieutenant in 1964. Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as a Rifle Platoon Leader of the 1/505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), he was involved with the Dominican Republic Conflict in 1965 and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge. He served in Vietnam from 1966 – 1969 with the 82nd as an advisor to the Vietnamese local defensive forces, later to be appointed as the District Senior Advisor on his last tour in 1969. He met and married his first wife, Mai, the sister of his interpreter and they had three children. Bob served in other capacities as an Army officer around the world and United States. He attended the Command and General Staff College at F. Leavenworth, KA, and while there attended the University of Kansas where he received a Masters in Political Science. He graduated CGSC in the top of his class and went on to his last duty assignment to Second Army Headquarters at F. Gillem, GA, where he served as the Division Chief of Resource Management and a staff officer in the Inspector General’s Office. He retired in 1988 after 25 years and received over the years a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, and his Airborne Wings for being jump qualified at Ft. Benning, GA, where he also attended Officer’s Basic and Advance Training. He attended Georgia State University in 1988 and graduated with a Masters in Art Education. He married his second wife, Peter Elizabeth Wolfe, also a military veteran, and went on to teach middle school. He became a life member of the VFW Post 5290 in Conyers, GA, and a member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association-Atlanta Chapter where he served as Chairman for several years. He was also a member and past President of the Airborne Historical Association, Inc., at Ft. Benning in which he did the research, coordination, and finally the erection of the Airborne Battle Memorial Monuments to honor the 18 battles fought by paratroopers and glidermen from WWII to Afghanistan.

He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil L. Timian and mother, Lucille Hoffman Timian. He is survived by his wife, Peter Elizabeth Wolfe, of Chattanooga, TN; brothers, Michael Timian, of Douglasville, GA and Richard Timian of Temple, AZ; son, Michael Timian, of Statham, GA; daughters, Viki Timian, of Lexington, GA and Melissa Timian Gardner, of Buffalo, NY; eight grandchildren.

A Memorial Art Show of his paintings, drawings and sketches will be shown at the VFW Post 5290, 1432 VFW Drive, in Conyers, GA, on Saturday, February 25th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. He requested that his ashes be buried at the Chattanooga National Military Cemetery on a historical date, which will be on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at 11:00 am with full military honors.

Condolences may be offered at www.horisawardrockdalechapel.com. Horis A. Ward Funeral Home, Rockdale Chapel, (770) 918-8851.

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