By Debbie Gregory.
Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Robert Corrigan was killed when former airman Devin Patrick Kelley opened fire in a Sutherland Springs church on November 5th.
Corrigan and his wife, high school sweetheart Shani, were two of the 26 parishioners murdered while attending church services. They had joined First Baptist Church in 2015.
No strangers to tragedy, the couple lost their son, Forrest Corrigan, in November of last year. At the service for Forrest, Pastor Frank Pomeroy asked God to give comfort in a time of death, trial and confusion. He told the assembled parishioners, “… it’s friends and family coming together through the help of the lord, the strength of the lord, that those that are left behind can continue on.”
Little did the pastor know that one year later, the friends and families of so many parishioners would need to come together to mourn this unbelievable loss of life.
Chief Master Sgt. Corrigan represented everything we expect from our military servicemembers: a loving and devoted husband and father as well as an exceptional officer who treated his fellow airmen like family.
Debra Bentley, Corrigan’s supervisor at WellMed Medical Management, where he began after retiring from the Air Force, said “He was incredibly bonded to his family, his community and service to his community.”
Lisa Schmidt, a WellMed vice president, said of Corrigan, “The two most important things to Bob were his unwavering faith and his family. He always put others first without hesitation.” She added, “He and Shani were a compassionate couple who cared deeply for others.”
The couple is survived by two sons, both on active-duty. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this horrible, senseless act of violence.
We are also hoping for a full recovery for the injured.
Military Connection salutes and proudly serves veterans and service members in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Guard and Reserve, and their families.
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