Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Robert William Shield, Jr. 1946 – 2025

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Robert (Bill) William Shield, Jr., beloved father, grandfather, brother, teacher, friend, and decorated veteran, passed away in Bossier City, LA on June 1, 2025 at the age of 78.

Born in 1946 in Abilene, TX, Bill devoted his life to service, both in uniform and in the classroom. He began his military career just after turning 18, enlisting in the Texas National Guard and later graduating from East Texas State University. He completed Officer Training School with a navigator-flying slot and went on to receive a position at Carswell Air Force Base in Ft. Worth, Texas in the 20th Bomb-Squadron to fly B-52D bombers. Simultaneously, he earned a Master's Degree from Texas Christian University, and later on in his career, earned his teaching credentials from LSU-Shreveport.

Bill proudly served in the United States Air Force for 22 years. Among the highlights of his distinguished career, he spent three years flying an FB-111 (the Aardvark) out of Plattsburgh Air Force Base and was later selected for a prestigious exchange program with the U.S. Navy. In this program, he served as an A-6E bombardier/navigator flying off the USS Constellation during a three-year assignment at NAS Whidbey Island, WA. He had 189 "traps" on the carrier and was promoted to Major during that time. He went on to graduate in the top 5% of his class from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During Operation Desert Storm, Bill served as the USAF Liaison Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a post he held with distinction as part of the 8th Air Force staff.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1994, Bill continued to serve his country and community for 14 years as a senior instructor of aerospace science where he also led the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program at Parkway High School in Bossier City, LA. He was not only an expert in his field, but a compassionate mentor and role model to generations of students. He retired from his impressive career as a Lt. Col with Naval Flight Officer and Master Navigator wings, a Meritorious Service Medal, and two USAF Commendation Medals.

Beyond his professional achievements, he carried an immense amount of love and pride for his family and enjoyed shooting and fishing. He loved his wife, Donna, with everything he had and together, they shared a love of their dogs, traveling in their Airstream, and LSU football. A kind, strong and honorable man, his legacy will live on in the lives of all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Crawford Shield, daughters, Terri Curtis and Shelley Long (Brad Long), siblings, Mike Shield (Sammie Shield) and Sandra Norton (Charles Norton), grandchildren, Elizabeth Curtis Brisbin (Jackson Brisbin), Allison Curtis Granger (Brandon Granger), Carlynn Medina (Rey Medina), Tristan Long (Celeste Long), Wyatt Long and his beloved dogs, Ava and Babs. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert William Shield, Sr. and Dorris Lynn Shield, and his son-in-law, Brian Curtis.