William Robert Wade was born in Williamstown, Melbourne, on June, 2, 1925, the second youngest of seven children. He was known as Bob, as his father was also William Robert.

His mother trained as a milliner and his father was a butcher, from a long line of master butchers, originating from the Isle of Man.

His father was also a boxing trainer, although Bob doesn't appear to have learned the noble art. With five sisters, Bob instead learned many of the more useful skills of the household, including gardening, cooking and knitting. Many believe he made the best shortbread.

During Bob's teen years he used to fly model aircraft, and dreamed of taking to the skies himself.

In 1939, when Bob was only 14, his father passed away - a disaster for the family. This necessitated Bob leaving school and taking on the role of the man of the house as his older brother was already away serving in the army.

He was employed by the James Patrick shipping company and in July 1943, having just turned 18, he enlisted in the air force during World War II, a move that would shape his life.

After training in Australia, he did navigational training in England and was posted to RAF Squadron 109, part of the Pathfinder Force. The Pathfinders were set up because many bombers were missing their targets. The Pathfinders dropped flares to show exactly where the bombs should land.

Bob grew to love the Mosquito, a plane known as the "wooden wonder", with a crew of two - pilot and navigator. The first mission for him and his RAF pilot John Smith was almost their last. A mysterious fuel leak meant they had to crash land in Belgium at night, fortunately in Allied territory. They knew they were lucky when they escaped unhurt, but it wasn't until morning they realised just how lucky. Returning to check the plane, they discovered they had landed in a minefield, which had already claimed the lives of several horses. Bob completed 26 operations over Germany, four in daylight and 22 at night.

Many believed Bomber Command operations curtailed the war by years. However, it entailed great sacrifice, with 44 per cent of air crew killed, at an average age of 23.

Bob was thrilled to be invited to take part in a trip to England organised by the Bomber Command Association of Australia last year - for the opening of the Bomber Command Memorial in Lincoln.

READ MORE: Wade wings his way back to Bomber Command

War navigator's emotional journey

After the war Bob re-applied to join the air force, and entered a long love affair with the service. He was posted from Point Cook, to Rathmines, to Ballarat, to Wagga, to Canberra, to Malaysia, to Melbourne, back to Canberra, then to Sydney, where he was commanding officer of the No 2 Stores Depot. He spent a year leading a team of 30 RAAF members at the Lockheed factory in Los Angeles, preparing for the RAAF's acquisition of the P3C Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft being manufactured at the time. Returning to Canberra as Director of Equipment Requirements, his final posting was to HQ's Support Command in Melbourne. Bob retired in 1981, with the rank of Air Commodore.

When Bob retired, he was the last Pathfinder to leave the RAAF. He received a letter from the Chief of the Air Staff praising him for his valuable contribution, and also recognising his "leadership, initiative and drive"/

After the war, when Bob returned home, he married Lorna Jamieson, also from Williamstown. The couple enjoyed 67 years of marriage until Lorna passed away in 2016. They had four children and faced more than their fair share of stresses having lived in 18 homes during Bob's RAAF career, and faced long enforced separations.

READ MORE: Wartime journey unites pair after 70 years

What's making history in the Eurobodalla Shire

Bob and Lorna retired to Batemans Bay in 1982 and bought 300 acres behind Maloney's Beach to develop a goat farm. Bob surveyed, cleared and fenced the block alone, working daily from dawn to dusk in the leech-infested bush. Sadly his farm didn't survive, the victim of wild dogs and sabotage.

After that disappointment, Bob took to voluntary work with a new passion, and became involved in adult literacy training because he knew the value of literacy in helping people meet their potential. He was also a volunteer driver for Euro transport for nearly 30 years, well into his 80s. He enjoyed growing plants for church fetes and delivered Meals on Wheels, and served on the board of Maranatha retirement home. He considered himself fortunate and wanted to give back. He was recognised by Eurobodalla Council as Senior Citizen of the Year in 2005 - and received an Australia Day achievement award in the same year.

Bob was an active and long-time member of the Batemans Bay Baptist Church - always having a warm welcome for newcomers, or a visit to those who were unwell or feeling isolated and lonely. His philosophy was built on the principle that the more you gave, the more you received.

Bob died suddenly and unexpectedly on April 2 and his funeral was held at Batemans Bay Baptist Church on April 10. He is survived by his children Elizabeth, John, Geoff and Julie, his daughters-in-law Gaye and Siew Imm, eight grandchildren and a great-grandson.