Captain Robert W. Wisdom

Captain Robert Willis Wisdom, United States Navy (Retired) Sun City Center, Florida. Robert (Bob) Wisdom passed away at hospice house on May 22, 2021. Bob was born on January 29, 1932, in Bloomfield, Iowa. He moved to Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of three. He graduated from Roosevelt High School and was active in high school basketball, football and other club activities. Bob was attending Drake University when the Korean War started. He applied for and was accepted as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1952. Upon completion of the Navy Flight Training program in December of 1953, Bob won his wings and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve. He was first stationed at the Naval air station in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1954, he applied for transition to the regular Navy and was accepted. He then started on his lifetime career as a regular Naval officer and aviator. Bob met and married Janet (Jan) Ruth Risvold in 1956. They were stationed throughout the United States. Jan predeceased Bob in April of 2016; they were married 59 years. Bob graduated from the Naval postgraduate school and served in several different patrol squadrons, one as commanding officer as well as two years aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Randolph. He made deployments around the world over a 20+ year career. Bob specialized in airborne anti-submarine warfare and spent many years operational flying. He started a second phase of his career in research and development at the Naval Air Station Test Center in Patuxent, Md. He tested new aircraft and airborne systems introducing digital applications. When Bob retired in 1975, the couple chose to live in Saint Petersburg, Florida. Bob flew for different small corporations and then moved to Weeki Wachi, Florida, in 1993, to spend his retirement time enjoying golf. Due to health considerations, Bob and Jan moved to Freedom Plaza in Sun City Center in 2009. Bob joined Prince of Peace Catholic Church in 2010. Bob was a loving husband and a caring uncle to his nieces, nephew and extended families. He had many cherished friends with whom he enjoyed spending quality time. Bob also had much love and pride for his country. His patriotism was demonstrated by his many years of military service and leadership. He was a Navy captain and aviator who will long be remembered as a gentleman of integrity. Bob’s family and friends will greatly miss him. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Jan; a brother, John McConnell Wisdom, of Indianola, Iowa; a sister, Joan Wisdom Bush, of Littleton, Colorado; and a niece, Carol Wisdom Myers, of Creston, Iowa. Bob leaves behind his niece, Mary (Garry) Luterek; nephew, Larry (Sheri) Risvold; niece, Laura (Tony) Abbott; numerous grandnieces and grandnephews; as well as great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. The funeral Mass service will be held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., followed by interment in section C1C-11 of Sarasota National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Please feel free to wear a touch of Red, White and Blue as a nod to Bob’s many years of dedicated military service.