Robert "Bob" McGee

Robert McGee

July 28, 1926 - September 19, 2024

Bob McGee died peacefully at his home at the age of 98. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betsy McGee in 2022. He is survived by his children, Tim McGee and Nancy McGee of Denver. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Bob graduated with a business degree from the University of Indiana, where he was a letterman in track and a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity.

Bob’s Air Force career spanned four wars: World War II; the “Cold War” and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. During the Cold War he served with Strategic Air Command, whose motto was, “Peace is our Profession.” Bob had numerous peacekeeping missions. He flew B36 bombers to the edge of enemy airspace as a deterrent to aggression from the Soviet Union. During the Cuban Missile Crisis he served as an operations officer when President Kennedy ordered reconnaissance flights over Cuba in a show of power. This uneasy 13 day standoff ultimately restored peace between the two nations. These experiences were the most gratifying of his career because the work was about keeping the peace vs. going to war. Bob retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Colonel at the age of 42.

Following his military career, Bob went to graduate school and earned an MBA from the University of Colorado. He enjoyed second and third careers in banking and commercial real estate development.

In addition to his professional interests, Bob had a lifelong passion for serving others. As a teenager he was an Eagle Scout and later in life he was an active volunteer and fundraiser for Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army and Denver Rescue Mission.

Bob was an excellent golfer and tennis player and was passionate about music, particularly jazz and classical. He found great joy in hiking the Rocky Mountains throughout New Mexico and Colorado with his wife, Betsy. He enjoyed reading biographies, history and British detective novels and he loved working in the garden. He was a gentle, kind and joyful man, with an easy smile. He had a great sense of humor and a genuine love of life. He never met a stranger and made fast and enduring friendships wherever he went. Bob loved science, nature and all kinds of animals, especially dogs and cats. He often said if he “had it to do over” he might have made a good veterinarian.

Bob will be sorely missed by his family and all who knew him him. There will be a small family service and donations in his honor can be made to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.