Barber, Robert Paul

Robert Paul Barber died Sept. 17, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital of congestive heart failure and kidney complications. A celebration of his life will be held Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at First Lutheran Church. Pastor Dan Kolander will officiate.

Bob was born in Kansas City, Mo., to Myra and Paul Barber on Nov. 28, 1924. He grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. He married Gloria Ann Youngblade on July 22, 1950, and they celebrated 59 years together this summer.

He attended Iowa State College in 1942 and was active in the Sigma Nu fraternity. He went on to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1948. He then attended Supply Corps School in Bayonne, N.J., and was assigned to the USS Pine Island. He was on active duty in the Korean War aboard a minesweeper. In 1954, he resigned from the Navy and started a different career to be with his family, first at Solar Aircraft in Des Moines, and then at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids in 1959. His association with Arthur Collins was a memorable one. From there he became president of Kelty Radiator and spent 10 years building a great business related to railroading. From there, he started a small company, S.S.C.I., and worked with his son Scott until his retirement in 2000.

His life was filled with service to others at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids as well as the church synod in Iowa. He chose to give time to children through scouting, from scout master to president of Hawkeye Area Council. He was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award, a Vigil Honor member, and received the national Lamb award for service to the Boy Scouts. He served on the school board of Cedar Rapids Community Schools for 11 years. He was a 50-year member in good standing of the Masons of Cedar Rapids, and belonged to the Shriners.

At the same time, always, he made time for his family - the love of which was never-ending.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria Ann; and three sons: Steven and Kim, and their sons, Dane and Kemp, of Richmond, Va., and Vance of New York City; Richard and Nancy of Bozeman, Mont., and their children, Jimmy of Spokane, Wash., and Annie of Portland, Ore.; and Scott and Becky, and their children, Britany, Christopher and Lauren of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Blake Steven Barber.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or Boy Scouts of America, Hawkeye Area Council.