Robert Joseph Scales

Robert J. Scales, 88, of Boynton Beach, Florida and Foxfire Village passed away at his daughter?s home in Foxfire on Friday March 20, 2009 after fighting a long and heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer?s Disease. Although the daily struggle with the disease was horrific, his passing was peaceful and he was surrounded by his family and the things that he loved. Bob was a long-term resident of Florida in both Boca Raton and Wellington, and spent time visiting his daughter in North Carolina. He is mourned by his wife, Loretta Scales of Boynton Beach, Florida and daughter Diane Lynn Scales of Foxfire. After finishing high school and business college, he enrolled in the Army Air Corp and went through pilot training at a number of locations throughout the United States. When he graduated, he received his plane and went on to serve his country during World War II as the pilot of a B-17 bomber stationed in England. On his final mission, the plane received enemy fire over Germany, but made it back across the English Channel crash-landing in a field in England. Surviving the crash with terrible injuries, he was in a full body cast for a year, finally being transported back to the United States on the ?Queen Mary.? In later years, he would always say that that was the scariest part of his service because so many anti-aircraft guns were mounted on the ship that she was top heavy and would sway from side to side as she made the crossing. He was more afraid of the ship capsizing and sinking in his full body cast than he was in service to his country! As he grew older, his time in the Army Air Corp became the focal point and pride of his life. As with all members of the ?Greatest Generation?, he did not see himself as a hero, but as someone who merely came to his country?s need and would always get embarrassed when someone called him a ?hero?. He would always say that he did what was asked of him and was proud to be a part of the ?Mighty Eighth Army Air Corp?. Many of the most touching moments occurred when he wore a baseball cap given to him by dear friends which had ?World War II Veteran? embroidered on it. Every time he wore that hat out in public, it never failed that someone would come up and thank him for his service to his country. That would fill him with pride. It also made his family swell with joy to see that people realized the caliber of man he was and took the time to recognize him for it.. Following his discharge from the service he became a fireman and then a transport operator for Ansco camera before going to work at Prudential Insurance. He began work as an agent and found that he loved his job. He excelled and advanced so much that his final position, prior to retirement in 1985 with Prudential, was President of the North East Home Office in Boston, Massachusetts. After retirement, he stayed on with Prudential in a consulting basis and helped open the Japanese market and offices. He was largely instrumental in the training and development programs introducing Prudential into the Far East. Mr. Scales was no stranger to personal tragedy, having suffered the loss of his first wife, Elizabeth Marie Scales in 2001 to heart disease and his daughter, Cynthia Ann Scales in 1999 to diabetes. There will be a private family service in West Palm Beach, Florida at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery. At the family?s request donations may be made to the MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE HERITAGE MUSEUM, 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, Georgia 31322. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.