Early Life & Education

Rod was born on August 2, 1935, in Goldsby, Oklahoma, to Lewis McKinley (Luke) Fishburn and Ora Pulliam Fishburn. The family moved to Purcell in 1947 so that Rod and his older brother Ron could attend high school. It was during his high school years that Rod became involved in the FFA program, raising champion livestock. After graduating, Rod attended Oklahoma A&M College in Stillwater. His college life, however, was cut short after a chance meeting with Navy recruiters, who visited his campus and sparked his call to serve.

Military Career

In 1955, Rod began his flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and was soon assigned to a squadron in California, where he met and married Anne Nyser in Alameda, California. The couple went on to have three daughters and moved a dozen times during Rod’s 20-year naval career. Rod flew C-130 cargo planes during the Vietnam War, where he earned the Vietnam Campaign Medal with three stars, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Medal, and numerous other commendations. His duty assignments took him and his family to locations around the world, including Japan, Philippines, California, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Maine, Sicily, and Puerto Rico.

Life After the Navy

Following his retirement from the U.S. Navy, Rod returned to school under the G.I. Bill, earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration. In the 1980s, he was owner and principal broker of Classic Realty in Norman, Oklahoma.

After the death of his father, Rod and Anne traveled extensively, living in California, Oklahoma, and Florida, before finally settling in Layton, Utah 20 years ago.

Family & Legacy

Rod was a loving husband, proud father, devoted grandfather, and a loyal friend. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Anne (Nyser) Fishburn, his daughter Joan Paine, son-in-law David Paine of Layton, Utah, daughter Leslie Fishburn-Bowman, son-in-law Scott Bowman of Los Angeles, California, daughter Sara Fishburn, and son-in-law Marcelo Da Silva of Honolulu, Hawaii. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Jay Paine, Aidan Bowman, Natalia, and Sofia Da Silva and 30 nieces and nephews, Rod was preceded in death by his brother Ron Fishburn and his parents Luke and Ora Fishburn.

Memorial Services

An interment with honors will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in January 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, honoring Rod’s enduring passion for aviation and his dedicated service to the U.S. Navy

Condolences may be sent to www.lindquistmortuary.com