Robert Lee Pinckney, Jr.

Robert L. Pinckney, Jr., longtime resident of Elgin, South Carolina, was born in Shenandoah Iowa to parents Robert (Sr.) and Jeanne Douglass Pinckney. The eldest of 4 siblings, he grew up in Wichita Kansas before moving with his family to the Philadelphia area. Robert Sr.'s service as a pilot in World War II and long career with Boeing helped Robert Jr. develop an interest in aviation at an early age which would last for the rest of his life.

After graduating from high school Robert pursued his dream of becoming a pilot and qualified for flight training with the U.S. Army. He went on to serve 2 tours of duty in Vietnam as a UH1("Huey") helicopter pilot and earned 2 bronze stars and 2 purple hearts. Upon completing his tours overseas, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and began to train other helicopter pilot students at the Army aviation school at Fort Novosel (formerly known as Fort Rucker), Alabama.

After an honorable discharge from the Army, he moved to Illinois and earned a degree in electronics engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. His engineering career at major defense technology companies in Missouri, New Jersey and Long Island, New York led him to specialize in radar and electronic countermeasure systems and work on many classified military aircraft projects.

He continued to pursue his passion for flying all throughout his life from building radio-controlled model aircraft to hang gliding and eventually purchasing his own airplanes. Robert retired to Elgin, South Carolina but didn´t stop flying; he added a commercial multi-engine rating to his pilot´s license and worked part-time as a private corporate pilot.

Robert was predeceased by his parents and sister Marcia and is survived by his sister Wendy, brother Douglass James ("Jim") and his son Douglass.

A celebration of life with friends and family will be held at 4:30 PM on Saturday, August 26th, at the Kornegay & Moseley Funeral Home, 4645 Hard Scrabble Road, Columbia, SC 29229, Tel: 803-788-3334.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the following:

American Heart Association:

https://ahatribute.funraise.org/fundraiser/doug-pinckney

Guiding Reins (equine therapy for veterans and first responders in the Carolinas):

https://guidingreins.org/donate

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