Bob’s Obituary Bob L. Robbins 84, beloved husband, son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2019. Bob was born on December 8, 1934, in Lake City, Kansas. The first-born child of LaVern and Kittie Robbins, Bobby (as he was known to family and childhood friends) spent his early years raised on a farm.
In 1943, Bobby and his family, now including younger sister, LaVeta Joan, moved to Medicine Lodge, KS. Bobby graduated from Medicine Lodge High School in 1952, where he excelled at football and was popular with classmates. After graduation, Bob began his life-long career in the grocery business at Parker’s IGA as a meat cutter where he cultivated a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence.
In 1955, Bob accepted a job offer from Dillons Food Stores to relocate from Medicine Lodge to Larned, KS. The new position was short-lived because in 1957, Bob was drafted into the Army where he spent two years stationed in Germany. When Bob returned from the Army in 1959, his career with Dillons continued and he was soon promoted to market manager.
In 1960, Bob was introduced to Barbara Kaye Gray, a recent graduate of Missouri University, who was beginning her career in the fashion business in Wichita. The blind date led to a marriage proposal and the couple were married in a formal church service on October 22, 1961, in Clinton, MO. Bob and B.K. (as she is known to family and friends) established their first home in east Wichita as Bob continued his career with Dillions, spending 16 years in store management.
Throughout his adult life, Bob enjoyed being a member of Masonic Lodge #433 and a Shriner with the Midian Temple in Wichita. He joined the mini-cycle unit and performed in numerous parades and functions all around Kansas and surrounding states. In 1994, after 40 years of dedicated service, Bob retired from the Dillons company and moved to the dream home that he and B.K. had built on the banks of Table Rock Lake in Shell Knob, MO.
Bob spent his golden years boating and fishing while enjoying the company of neighbors and friends living around the lake. In early 2018, Bob and B.K. returned to Wichita and Bob became a resident at the Park West Retirement Community, where he was cared for during his remaining days. Bob was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years, B.K; his sister, LaVeta (Wichita), and her four children: niece, Sheryl Whittecar (Wichita); nephews, Gregg Whittecar (Miami, FL), Brian (Paige) Whittecar (Bartonville, TX) and Todd (Kelley) Whittecar (Houston, TX); great-niece, Reanna Putnam (Brent Pease) and great-nephew, Branden Burc; great-great-nephew, Arlo; cousins, Eddie (Martha) Cheshire, Ron Cooke, Connie (Hugo) Huslig, Kent and Terry Vanderplus, Carol Lake-Rogers, and many friends in Medicine Lodge, Wichita and Shell Knob. Visitation, 6-8 pm. , Friday, March 15; Funeral Service, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 16, both at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West.
Final resting place will be at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita. Memorials: Midian Shrine Temple, 130 N. Topeka, Wichita, KS 67202 and Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E. Rockhill, Suite 403, Wichita KS 67206.
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