Lee Edward Bounds

LtCol Lee Edward Bounds Sr, USAF

30 Year Veteran Serving in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Wars

LtCol Lee Edward Bounds, USAF, passed away August 8, 2018 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He was born in Burkburnett, Texas, to Hollis and Rachel Hubert Bounds on June 17, 1922. He was raised on a farm along with eight aunts and uncles by his grandfather and grandmother, Robert E. Lee and Eula Featherstone Bounds after the death of his Mother.

LtCol Bounds moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1928 when his father married Olive Kimbrell, and was joined by his sister Naomi and step-sisters, Betty and Barbara. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School and Tulsa University before joining the US Army Air Corps during World War II earning his pilot wings in 1943. Awaiting overseas assignment in 1944-45, he flew the PT-19, B-24, B-26, and glider aircraft. After WWII, he flew F-84s and P-51s with his lifelong friend and brother-in-law, Col. Harry Underwood in the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

LtCol Bounds was recalled to active duty in 1950 and flew combat missions in Korea (F-86) and Vietnam Wars (O-1 and O-2) earning the Distinguished Flying Cross(2), Bronze Stars (3), Air Medals (11), Meritorious Service Medals (3) and various WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Medals. He flew over 30 types of aircraft, including the F-100, F-4, B-47, B-52, T-33, T-39, and co-piloted helicopters. He was known to say, "You start it, I’ll fly it." He flew missions with his son, Lee Jr, during the 1968 Vietnamese Tet Offensive. Both of his sons, Lee and Jim, became Navy helicopter pilots.

After retiring from a successful military career, he joined his wife, Carolyn, in Bounds Village Travels, with offices in Fort Walton Beach and Destin, Florida. He was an avid sportsman who enjoyed skiing, golfing, music, animals, and flying. He was a member of the Order of Daedalions.

He was the linchpin to family gatherings with the Bounds, Wilson, Underwood, Fletcher, Kimbrell, Jones, and Campbell clans. He was especially close to his Oklahoma nieces and nephews, Mary Jaye, Laura, Steve, and Rachel Underwood, Andrew Kimbrell, Randy Jones, Barbara Wilson, and Mark Hambric.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Carolyn Ioerger Bounds, father, mother, and sister. He is survived by sisters, Betty Campbell and Barbara Hambric, sons and daughter, CDR Lee Bounds Jr (Judi), CDR James Bounds (Pam), and Debra Golden (Robert). He is also survived by his grandsons and granddaughter, Robert Bounds (Sharron), Capt. Daniel Golden (Lindsay), Lt. James Golden (Emma), Matthew Golden (Laura), Brady and Paige Bounds; and great grandsons Samuel, Eli and Peter Golden.

The family is grateful to his care-givers Maria Rios, Betty, Josephine, and Margaret, who provided him with loving care for the past few years. Also, thank you to team at Covenant Hospice for their professional compassionate care.

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