Robert Hardin "Bob" Finch

Robert Hardin “Bob” Finch, a resident of Monroe, passed away on August 30, 2016, at the age of 87 after a short illness. He was a deacon in the Baptist church, veteran of World War II and the Korean War. Retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant from the US Air Force, he had a second career as a computer programmer in Monroe. He was a jack-of-all-trades and amateur inventor, often bringing his ideas to life in his garage which was fondly known as ‘Bob’s Fab Shop’.
Bob was born at his family’s home on their farm near Kilbourne, Louisiana, in 1928. He is preceded in death by his parents, Marshall Francis Finch and Mary Emma Anderson Finch, and his thirteen brothers and sisters: William Earnest Finch, Leslie Irene Brent, Ruby Lee Thompson, twins John Carter and Leonidas Polk Finch, twins Lurline Randall and Pauline Hynard, Fannie Pearl Finch, Carey Finch, twins Annie Laura and Lawrence Finch, Dr. Marshall Francis Finch, Jr., and Mary Agnes Finch.
He is survived by Elise Prine Finch, his wife of 64 years. He is also survived by his sons Marshall Stephen Finch and wife Brenda McAdams Finch of Culver City, CA, and Dr. Robert Hardin Finch, Jr., and wife, Kathryn Barber Finch of Georgetown, TX. He also leaves behind his five grandchildren: Christopher Finch, Jennifer Finch, Melanie Grisham, Kristina Mauldin, and Tara Simpson, and three great-grandchildren: Cameron Porter, Sophie Simpson, and Elise “Ellie” Simpson.
Bob attended all his 11 years of school at Kilbourne School and graduated in 1945. At the age of 17, he joined the US Army Air Corps and was training as a photographer when he was discharged after 9 months due to the drawdown of the army after WWII. He returned to Kilbourne where he helped his brother and father build the house that still stands near the old home site. He took advantage of the GI bill and went to Chicago to study radio technology at Deforest Training School (now DeVry Institute), where he obtained his first class radio-telephone operator’s license. He was working as an engineer in a radio station in Natchez, MS, when the Korean War erupted, and he enlisted in the US Air Force. He was selected to work in radio maintenance in the USAF Security Service (now USAF Intelligence) and was assigned to 1st Radio Squadron Mobile (RSM), Detachment 13, 606th Air Control & Warning in Korea. He was the only radioman and was responsible for all electronic equipment, including two studio grade tape recorders, as well as the design and maintenance of antennas. Most of the members of 1stRSM were Russian-speaking Americans of Russian descent who were monitoring the radio transmissions of Russian and Polish pilots flying for the communist Chinese and Korean forces. Bob also transported tapes of Chinese and North Korean pilots to South Korean intelligence in Seoul for analysis. 1st RSM, along with collaborating radar units, were commended for their service directing USAF P-51 Mustangs and F-86 Sabres to enemy MiGs and shepherding US B-29 night bombers away from them.
Prior to going to Korea, Bob’s sister, Mary Agnes, had introduced him to her friend, Elise Prine, while Bob was on leave in Kilbourne. Elise was a senior at Kilbourne School. Before leaving for Korea, Bob called Kilbourne School and the principal allowed Elise to take his call at the school. When he returned from Korea, they married at Kilbourne in 1952. Bob was selected to train as an IBM Custom Engineer to maintain the tube/mechanical computers then being used by USAFSS. From 1955 to 1966, the family moved between San Antonio, TX, and Anchorage, AK, with eight of those years in Anchorage. The Alaska Good Friday Earthquake occurred a few months before the family transferred back to San Antonio.
Bob took advantage of opportunities to learn programming. His last USAF assignment was Non-Commisioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of a group at USAF Headquarters Command in Washington, D.C., that tested supply programs before they were used at USAF bases. For his service in this assignment, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award, the highest non-combat award in the Air Force.
When he retired from the Air Force in 1969, the family moved to Monroe to be near the Finch farm property in Kilbourne. Bob worked as a programmer for Ouachita National Bank and farmed on the side. He later worked as a programmer at NLU while he earned a BBA degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1979, and was named the Outstanding Business School Graduate. After graduation, he worked at insurance and real estate and then returned to programming, this time for Utility Data Systems in Monroe.
In retirement, he and Elise enjoyed church activities, volunteering, going fishing, and making trips in their travel van. Bob enjoyed genealogy and history, and self-published books about the Finch and Prine families for his sons. He was adept at carpentry, welding, plumbing, electrical work, and engine repair. A running joke in the family was that he could not buy something with an engine without modifying it.
Bob loved his family. He was proud to have served his country. It was clear he believed his service in the Korean War was the most important work he had done, but he could not share the story with his family until the information was declassified in the 1980’s.
Visitation will be he held on Friday, September 2, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe, LA. The funeral service to celebrate Bob’s life will take place at 10:00 am Saturday, September 3, at Mulhearn Funeral Home. Dr. Alan Miller and the Rev. James Doughty will officiate. Pallbearers will be Lavelle Prine, Grover Smith, Norman Janes, Brad Johnson, Jack Walker, and Paul Parrish. Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of First Baptist Church, Monroe. Following the service, interment will take place at Kilbourne Cemetery.
The family wishes to thank their friends, their extended family, the members of First Baptist Church, Monroe, and the staff of the NE Louisiana Veterans’ Home for the support and prayers that they have provided during Bob’s illness.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA