Ltc. Robert Howard Haley, Retired U.S. Army, passed away on April 15, 2023 in Houston, TX. Graveside service with Military Honors will be held Saturday April 22, 2023 at 3pm , at Cedar Gap Cemetery Located at Co Rd 150 at the intersection of Hwy 83/84. Visitation will be held Saturday from 12-2pm at North's Funeral Home Chapel 242 Orange St. Abilene, TX. 79601 Ltc. Haley was born October 22,1933 in Murfreesboro, TN, the son of Minnie Gay Haley and James Robert Haley. Robert graduated from Murfreesboro Central High School in 1951. He was a member of the undefeated Central High School football team and was awarded a football scholarship to Middle Tennessee State College graduating in 1955. He completed ROTC at MTSC and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army. He also played football on the 1955 Fort Knox, Ky football team and the 1958 Fort Hood, Tx football team. He entered pilot training at Gary Army Airfield in San Marcos, Tx. He served in various Army Aviation units in the Third Armored Division and First Infantry Division and the Seventh Infantry Division in the U. S., Korea and Vietnam. He was a Master Army Aviator qualified to fly helicopters and airplanes. He graduated from Army Master Command and General Staff College in 1970. During his career he was awarded the Army Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, 23 Air Medals, the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. His name is inscribed on a commemorative stone at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C., dedicated to those awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was awarded a commission as a Colonel in The Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels in 1975 by then Governor Wendell Ford of Kentucky. Ltc. Haley retired with his family in Abilene, Tx in 1977 where he managed his residential rental properties. He was a member of the Highland Street Church of Christ. He served as a Vice President and President of the Abilene Chapter of the Retired Army Officers Association. He was a member of VFW Post 6873, American Legion Post 57, Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, Army Aviation Association of America, Military Officers Association of America, the Distinguished Flying Cross Society and the Society of the First Infantry Division. Ltc. Haley was married to Betty L. Townsen of Abilene who pre-deceased him in 2007. Survivors are his daughter Andrea C. (Tina) Haley- Canto, her husband Joaquin, grandson Robert and granddaughter Angela all of Houston, TX, his son John David Haley, his wife Laquetta Shane, granddaughter Olivia Haley and grand stepson Jamie Shane all of Austin, TX. He was very proud of the fact that he served his country and proud to learn his 5th great grandfather Barnabas Haley 1755-1851), served as a Pvt. in the Virginia Line in the Revolutionary War. Services entrusted to North's Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.northsfuneralhome.com