More detail on this person: Lt. Col. Robert "Bob" Gregory Bustos, United States Marine Corps,
(Retired) of Pace, Florida, departed on his final flight Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at the age of
83. He was born in Los Angeles, California on September 17, 1932 to George and Mary Bustos and was
preceded in death by his parents along with his oldest son, Donald Bustos. Survivors include his
loving wife of 65 years, Maren (Anne) Bustos, his sons, Thomas Bustos and his wife Marsha Bustos,
Timothy Bustos, and daughter, Diane Pearce and her husband David Pearce, as well as six
grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
As a young man growing up in Los Angeles, Bob attended and then graduated from Mount Carmel High
School and enlisted into the United States Marine Corp as a Private. He was a bright and motivated
young man who moved quickly through the ranks and was soon commissioned as an officer in the
Marine Corps and sent to flight school in Pensacola, Florida where he trained to become a helicopter
pilot. During his 23 years in service, he earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served his
country with honor and distinction to include piloting Marine One for President Lyndon B. Johnson.
After retiring from the USMC, he continued his education in Business Administration and graduated
with his Masters degree from the University of West Florida in Pensacola, where he then became a
professor in the Accounting department. Bob was a well-loved family man and remembered for the many
jokes he often told even if they were received with rolled eyes and a small chuckle. His children
will remember him singing loudly and frequently in the church choir and his loving wife will miss
her life long love and confidant.
A private memorial service will be scheduled by the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Alzheimer's Association at
http://www.alz.org
Trahan Family Funeral Home of Pensacola is handling arrangements.
Published in Pensacola News Journal on Sept. 18, 2016
Burial: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL
Burial information: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL
This information was last updated 09/30/2016
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association