Robert B. Keeton Resident of Robert Branscomb Keeton crossed over to His Heavenly Father, at his home, family by his side in, Austin, Texas Tuesday, January 25th, 2011.

Robert Keeton is survived by nephews Paul Jenkins, Johnson City, Texas, Robert Kline, Goose Creek, South Carolina, Richard Kline, Loveland, Colorado; nieces Dixie Boone, Austin, Texas and Judy Barnes, Bombay Beach, California, his AVG Family and numerous other family members and friends. Robert Branscomb Keeton was born on April 7, 1915 in Manzanola, Colorado, to Jacob Clarence Keeton and Minnie Branscomb Keeton.

Robert attended school in Manzanola, where he was active in athletics. Graduated from Colorado College, where he played football. He entered the Navy for flight training in the September of 1938. He received his Navy Gold Pilot Wings in the summer of 1939, at Pensacola, Florida. Two years later he was one of the one hundred pilots hand picked from the Army, Navy and Marines to form the American Volunteer Group. This group went to Burma to fly and fight for the Chinese Government before the United States entered World War II.

"Buster" Keeton resigned his Navy commission in 1941 to join the American Volunteer Group (AVG) under the command of Colonel Claire Chennault. He departed the United States September 1, 1941. He spent one year to the day with the Flying Tigers. He arrived in Rangoon on November 12, 1941 with a group of thirty volunteers on the Dutch ship M.S. Bosch Fontein. Upon arrival he ferried planes until he was fully trained on the P-40.

"Buster" was a member of the AVG's Second Pursuit Squadron (Panda Bears). He had a confirmed 2.5 victories in air combat. The Flying Tiger's racked up a 15-1 kill ratio and likely stopped the Japanese from conquering and threatening British held India. Robert Keeton flew for thirty-eight years logging enough hours to have circled the earth twenty-seven times. Including, the Berlin Airlift and the last flights from Vietnam at the close of the war. When the AVG, better known as the "Flying Tigers," was disbanded in 1942. He was discharged from the AVG as Flight Leader on September 1, 1942 at Kunming, China. He returned to the United States in December 1942.

Robert "Buster" Keeton joined the Flying Tiger Overseas Airline. On May 23rd, 1943 Robert Branscomb Keeton from Manzanola married Metha Holm of Rocky Ford, Colorado at Raton, New Mexico. The love of his life was by his side until her death on February 25th, 1997. She never left his mind.

"Bus" Keeton as he was fondly known, flew for Pan American Airlines until he was sixty years old (mandatory retirement age). When not flying, golf, golf, and golf. He and Metha attended air shows, Flying Tiger reunions and shared a life one might only dream of.

Awarded; First, Second and Seventh Chinese Cloud Banner, British Distinguished Flying Cross, United States of American Distinguished Flying Cross. The AVG was inducted into the Airman Hall of Fame in 1998, in Midland, Texas. The AVG was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio, in July 1999. In October 8th, 2010 "Buster" was inducted into the Airman Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas.

The family of Robert "Buster" Keeton would extend a special thank you to: Dr. Richard Helmer, his nurse Laura Wendlandt (Texas Oncology), and The Pavilion at Great Hills for the love and respect given to their loved one. Robert Branscomb Keeton, "Bus" Keeton or "Buster" Keeton all the same, a "True Gentlemen ".

He was highly regarded as a man with high moral standards, integrity and generosity. His legacy includes words like compassion, kindness, truth, honesty and toughness. His stories never got old, precious memories like yesterday, his infatuating smile!

God blessed him with his dream and us with him! Memorials maybe made to the Hospice of your choice. Memorial Services planned: 2:00pm, Friday, February 18, 2011 at The Pavilion at Great Hills, 11809 Pavilion Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Service and reception: Manzanola Cemetery, Manzanola, Colorado on Monday May 23rd, 2011. Time to be announced. Crofts Funeral Home (830) 868-4444

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