Lt. Col. Bobby Joe Newsom

Lt. Col. Bobby Joe Newsom, 87, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away at home, surrounded by his family on July 5, 2025. He was born February 23, 1938 in Hamilton, TX.

Bobby spent his early years moving around Central Texas as his father looked for work. He entered the Buckner Orphans Home in Dallas, TX in October of 1946 after his father deserted his family (whom he forgave later in life). Bobby attended elementary and high school at the orphanage and graduated from Buckner Home High School in 1956 and later Auburn University with a degree in Political Science in 1973. He married the love of his life, Rebecca Lorraine Chapman on December 24, 1960.

Bobby joined the U.S. Marine Corps on January 4, 1957 and served over 22 years, retiring in 1979 as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career, Bobby earned his Wings as a Naval Aviator in May of 1961 and flew combat missions over North and South Vietnam and Laos in 1965, 1968, and 1969. In 1975, he graduated from the U.S. Navy's Test Pilot School allowing him to pursue a career in the Experimental Flight Test Department for Beech Aircraft Corporation, which he retired from on June 1, 2000. Bobby was a respected test pilot in the Wichita aviation community. During retirement, he built and flew his handmade RV8 single-engine aeroplane and even wrote an autobiography, "Pigeye."

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Thomas Newsom and Florine (Cathey) Reed; wife, Rebecca Newsom; and brothers, Charles Newsom, Jack Newsom, and James Newsom.

Bobby is survived by his children, Wanda (Dave) Wells, Robert Newsom, David (Heather) Newsom, Cathey (Jason) Holland, and Elizabeth (Kelly) Jacobs; 16 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

Visitation: 5 to 7 pm, Monday, July 14, 2025 at Reflection Pointe Funeral & Cremation Services, 3201 S. Webb Rd., Wichita, KS 67210. Graveside: 10 am, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at Reflection Pointe Cemetery. Celebration of Life: 12 pm, Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at Faith Baptist Church, 417 W. Central, Andover, KS 67002.