Robert Allen Van Hersett, 1946–2025

Robert Allen Van Hersett was born on November 26, 1946, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, WA. Named after Spokane's Robert Little of the Flying Tigers, Bob was the third child of George Edgar and Myrtle May Van Hersett of Millwood, WA. He passed away December 8, 2025, at the age of 79.

Bob's father served as a Navigator in the US Air Force, giving the family an itinerant childhood that took them to Hickam AFB in Hawaii, Westover AFB in Massachusetts, and Brady AFB, Japan before settling in Davenport, WA.

An Eagle Scout, Bob graduated from Davenport High School and went on to Washington State University, earning a degree in History with a focus on tank warfare in WWII and the battles of Israel. A natural athlete, he played club soccer and represented WSU at the National Collegiate Parachuting Championships as a senior.

Following graduation, Bob entered the United States Marine Corps, serving as a tank commander during the Vietnam conflict and achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. His decorations included the Rifle and Pistol Expert Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. During his service he logged over 600 skydives as a certified Skydiving Instructor and was an avid scuba diver.

After the Marines, Bob built a life as varied as the one that preceded it. He worked for Radio Shack, becoming a skilled spreadsheet programmer in the early days of personal computing. He refereed soccer matches, played in adult leagues, and landscaped his yard with quiet pride. He maintained an extensive library of historical films, loved his Datsun 240Z, and rarely passed up a large glass of orange juice.

Later in life, Bob transitioned and lived as Diana Dee Parr for the remainder of her life. Diana became a passionate advocate for the largely untold history of women who flew military aircraft during WWII. She conducted extensive research, authored a history book, and wrote a movie script documenting the trials these women faced as they ferried the full range of fighters and bombers from factory floors to active air bases.

To the 17 nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, she was simply "Uncle Bob" — a name carried with deep affection across generations.

Diana is survived by her two older brothers, David G. Van Hersett of Spokane, WA, and Richard J. Van Hersett of Lone Tree, CO.