Robert Earnest Kilroy

Robert Earnest Kilroy, age 89 of Gulfport, passed away on March 3, 2025, in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Mr. Kilroy was a native of Detroit, Michigan, and had been a resident of Gulfport, Mississippi since 1964. Mr. Kilroy retired from the Air Force in 1979 as a Master Sergeant with over 26 years of service, having served in New York, Illinois, Germany, Nebraska, Korea, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Saudi Arabia, North Carolina, Thailand, and Michigan.

After military service, he took a position in retail electronic sales in the Biloxi, MS area, and returned to government service in 1984 with the US Naval Oceanographic Office at Stennis Space Center, MS, specializing in physical oceanography sensor systems. He retired from civil service in April 2003, with over 44 years combined federal service.

When first stationed at Keesler Air Force Base, MS in 1964 as an electronics instructor, he worked as a volunteer with the civil air patrol, the Air Force Auxillary, specializing in communications and emergency services. For over 20 years he served as Director of Communications at Wing Level. He had over 52 years of service as a C.A.P. Volunteer at the time of his death.

Mr. Kilroy was active since 1969 in amateur radio, with the call sign of WB8BIE. He was a charter member of the Mississippi Coast Amateur Radio Association. He was active in the Air Force Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) program, mainly running radio-telephone patches and messages between service personnel, all over the world, and their families.

Mr. Kilroy was preceded in death by his parents, Ivan Loftus Kilroy, originally of St. Catherines Ontario, Canada and Bertha Gertrude Earnest Kilroy of Shellsburg, WI, both are buried in Lexington, MI; and his wife, Gisela Rother Kilroy of Bad Krauznach, Germany.

He leaves behind his daughter, Joan Kilroy Higley and Bob Higley of Frisco, TX; and sons, James Kilroy and Sue Kilroy of Euless, TX and Robert Kilroy and Theresa Kilroy of Matthews, NC. He also leaves one brother John Kilroy and Britt Kilroy of Croswell Michigan. He leaves a wonderful legacy for his 9 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation for friends will take place from 9:30am to 11:00am on Saturday, March 15, 2025, with the funeral service beginning at 11:00am at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport. Reception to be held from 12:00pm – 2:00pm in the funeral home reception center.

There will be a graveside service with full military honors at 10:00am on Monday, March 31, 2025 at the Biloxi National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the MS Wing Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/giving or to the American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org/ or to the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank https://advancingsight.org/mississippi-lions-eye-bank/giving/ .