Bob Torrance moved to Union Township in Johnson County as a child. His parents, William and Virginia, lived in several homes before settling in the community of Providence. He grew up in the country with his two younger brothers and attended Union School, which served grades one through 12. When the Franklin schools consolidated during his senior year, he transferred to Franklin Community High School. Torrance said the move from a class of 26 at Union to a much larger class at Franklin was a major change. He had played basketball through high school but switched to track and field, competing in the mile. He grew to enjoy running and said the experience helped him greatly after he joined the military.
After graduating in 1964, Torrance enlisted in the Air Force in September 1965. He was serving abroad when his draft notice arrived at his home. His father had also served in the Air Force, and his uncle, a B-17 pilot, had died in Germany. Drawing on their experiences, Torrance chose the Air Force so he could determine his own path before the draft did. After basic training in San Antonio, he was assigned to a New Hampshire base, where he spent a year with the Civil Engineering Squadron learning road and grounds construction. In December 1966, he received orders for Vietnam and arrived at Pleiku Air Base, a key joint-use military airfield in South Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Torrance recalled arriving as a naive young man, unaware of the dangers of war.
When he stepped off the plane, his first impression was, “You smell it.” He initially lived in a tent before moving into barracks two weeks later. In an unexpected coincidence, he encountered his high school friend Charlie Higdon on the base. “Halfway around the world, we had a great conversation standing there,” Torrance said.
Torrance said he helped build the base from the ground up. Air raid sirens often sounded at night, sending personnel to the bunkers as enemy forces approached through nearby rice paddies. Despite qualifying with the M-16 and earning a marksmanship medal, Torrance was never issued a weapon at the base; only security guards carried guns. During one period of R&R, he traveled by train to Thailand.
In December 1966, Torrance returned to the United States and was assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base, an Air Training Command facility. Returning Vietnam veterans were offered various educational opportunities, and Torrance chose to study refrigeration. “That was a good decision on my part,” he said.
After returning to Indiana, Torrance worked for Frost in Indianapolis and then for several other contractors. His father had operated a similar business on the side for 10 years, and in 1985, Torrance founded Torrance and Sons Heating and Cooling. He enjoyed the trade, saying, “I like working with my hands, and meeting and talking with different people was rewarding.” He led the company for 31 years; today, his youngest son, Ron, runs it. Torrance is proud to see this third-generation business thrive and grow under his son’s leadership.
Torrance has long supported local charities. A 52-year member and past master of Union Village Freemason Lodge, he served 16 years as treasurer and continues to make pancakes at lodge breakfasts. He also cooked and served breakfast at the county fair’s Shrine tent and helped with fish fries. Asked whether he cooks at home, his wife, Libby, quickly shook her head.
For 25 years, Torrance drove his miniature race car in parades with fellow Mini Mystics Shriners. “I kept at it until I could no longer climb out of the car,” he said. Over the years, he has served his community in many ways, including mowing the lawn and serving as a trustee at Victory Christian Church, pushing wheelchairs at the Indiana Masonic Home/ Compass Park, and volunteering weekly at the Johnson County Food Pantry until recently. He is also a member of the Scottish Rite and played softball for the Franklin Jaycees for several years. Health issues have recently limited his involvement in these activities.
Torrance is also a member of the American Legion Post 205 Honor Guard. Since joining about 15 years ago, he has folded and presented flags, fired ceremonial volleys and given commands with the color guard. “When my dad passed away, I saw the honor guard and thought it would be a meaningful way to serve,” he said.
In April 2024, Torrance participated in an Honor Flight, a free, one-day trip sponsored by the Honor Flight Network that takes veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials honoring their service and sacrifice. His oldest son, Jeff, accompanied him. “They treated us like we were the tops,” Torrance said of the organization. “Jeff pushed me in a wheelchair all day, which was great because I could not have walked all those steps.”
Reflecting on his military service, Torrance said he would serve again. He added that his service ended before returning veterans began facing unkind treatment. Today, he says he would do it again and that he enjoyed his military career.
These days, Torrance is content to remain stateside and spend time with his wife, Libby. They will celebrate 50 years of marriage in October. After marking the occasion early with a trip to Hawaii, they plan to spend their anniversary at their timeshare in French Lick. They also cherish making memories with their children: sons Jeff, Ron and Jared, and their daughter, Lora Cummins, and their families.
