Robert "Bob" Fisher, Jr.

Robert "Bob" Fisher, Jr., 92, retired Learjet test pilot, died Sunday, November 5, 2023. Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, November 10, 2023, at Westwood Presbyterian Church. USMC Lt. Col. Robert “Bob” Fisher Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Fisher, Sr. was born in Framingham, Massachusetts July 17, 1931. His hometown was Holliston, Massachusetts. Bob graduated from Framingham, Massachusetts High School in 1949, followed by an Associate Degree from Boston University in 1952. Following active duty military service, he later received a B.S. degree in Aeronautics from St. Louis University in 1959. Bob entered U.S. Navy flight training in 1952 and received his Navy wings in December 1953. After completion of flight training, he transferred to the U.S. Marine Corp and served active duty in three U.S. Marine fighter squadrons in the U.S., Japan, and Korea, ending in 1956. Following active duty, he served in Marine Reserve Fighter Squadrons based in St. Louis, Missouri and Olathe, Kansas until military retirement in 1973. During his military career, Bob flew a wide variety of aircraft, from World War II propeller aircraft to supersonic jet fighters. While attending St. Louis University, Bob met and subsequently married Lois Standley in 1959. The same year the newly married couple moved to Wichita, Kansas for work in the aviation industry and starting a family. Children Rob, Pam, Tim, and Jen were born from 1960-1967 and raised in Goddard, Kansas. Bob and his second wife Linda Sollars Fisher were married in 1990, becoming stepfather to Linda’s children Mike Sollars and Susan Chambers. Upon retirement in 1993, Bob and Linda resided in Goddard, Kansas until moving to a Wichita, Kansas retirement community in 2023. Bob’s aviation career included employment for several years at Boeing and Cessna in various roles beginning in 1959. His flight test career began at Cessna as a Flight Test Engineer in 1963. In 1965, he was hired as a Production Flight Test Pilot at Learjet and in 1972, Bob was promoted to Chief of Engineering Flight Test. During his Learjet career, Bob was involved with the development, flight testing and certification of many Learjet models. Bob and Linda both retired from Learjet in 1993. Following retirement from Learjet, Bob also worked for Avcon Industries in Newton, Kansas between 1996-2001 as a contracted Flight Test Pilot for certification of Learjet modifications. Beyond his passion for flying, Bob loved being near the water, especially his lake house at Beaver Lake, Arkansas. The lake was the focus of many family, friend, and coworker gatherings for 50 years. Bob also enjoyed poetry, classical music and traveled extensively with Linda in retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert D. and Eva M. Fisher; brothers, Donald Fisher, William Fisher. Survived by his wife, Linda Glee Fisher; sons, Robert Fisher, III, Timothy (Charlene) Fisher; daughters, Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Fisher; stepson, Michael Sollars; stepdaughter, Susan (Kenyon) Chambers; Grandchild, Leah (Garrett) Butler; eight step grandchildren, Tara, Shanna, Carissa, Mikaela, Gage, Rylie, Hollie, Shanon; and 12 step great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm, Friday, November 10, 2023, at Westwood Presbyterian Church. A memorial has been established with: Westwood Presbyterian Church, 8007 W. Maple St., Wichita, KS 67209. Services in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary - West Chapel.

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