Robert L. Thatcher
Robert L. Thatcher
ROBERT
L.
THATCHER
SOLDIER DETAILS
BIOGRAPHY
Thatcher, Robert Louis, 90, a Dana Point, California resident, passed away quietly on August 18, 2012. Born April 21, 1922 in Tempe, Arizona, he served as a B-24 Squadron Leader, Group Commander and Assistant Operations Officer with the 15th Air Force, 455th Bomb Group, 742nd Squadron in Italy. He was severely wounded during his 19th mission over Augsburg, Germany and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, European Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars and Silver Star for the Air Offensive Europe, Air Combat Balkans and Rome-Arno campaigns. Following his discharge, he received his Bachelor's Degree and JD Degree from the University of Southern California. As a prominent Newport Beach attorney, he developed a successful practice while owning a successful cattle ranching operation in Northern California and Oregon with his wife, Sally Smith Thatcher. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sally Smith Thatcher, along with his son, Jeffrey Thatcher and two other grandsons from his daughter, Wendy Thatcher Mabile, who preceded him in death.