R. Robert Hollibaugh

  R. Robert Hollibaugh, 92, of Aurelia, Iowa, formerly of Kingwood, Texas, passed away on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, at his daughter’s home in Aurelia, where he and his wife have made their home since December of 2015.

Memorial services will be at a later date in Winfield, Kansas. The Redig Funeral Home, in Aurelia, is in charge of local arrangements.

Ralph Robert Hollibaugh was born on June 17, 1923, in Arkansas City, Kan., the son of Ralph William and Clara Elizabeth (Calvert) Hollibaugh. He graduated from the Winfield, Kansas High School in 1940.  He then attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan. for a time and then attended and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas.

In December of 1942 Robert enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a navigator during WWII, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He was honorably discharged from the US Air Force in May of 1958 with the rank of Captain.

Robert was united in marriage to Barbara Allred on July 18, 1954 at Bay St. Louis, Miss.  To this union five children were born. Robert was employed as a chemical engineer with Hercules, Inc., of Salt Lake City, Utah, Lone Star Cement Co., of Bonner Springs, Kan. and New Orleans, La. later Northwestern States Portland Cement, of Mason City, Iowa, retiring in 1988.

Robert was a member of the Disciples of Christ Christian Church where he served as an elder. He served two terms as a school board member at Clear Lake, was a past president of the Clear Lake Rotary Club and Paul Harris Fellow, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, a member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers and served as Iowa’s Chairman.  He was a Boy Scout leader, and enjoyed playing Bridge and golfing. Robert and Barbara enjoyed traveling and family camping trips, and he adored his dogs and family.

Preceding Robert in death were his parents; one brother, William Hollibaugh; and one sister, Betty Rasmussen.

Left to cherish Robert’s memory are his wife, Barbara, of Aurelia; five children, Holly, and her husband Ted Peck, of Prescott, Az., Bradley, and his wife Linda, of Kingwood, Texas, Julie, and her husband Tim DeStigter, of Aurelia, Farley Hollibaugh, of Crosby, Texas, Stanley, and his wife Emily, of Kingwood, and Maarten Gijsbers, a foreign exchange son from Leiden, The Netherlands. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Libby, and her husband Dan Gustafson, of Cherokee, Iowa, Lana, and her husband Rob Martinez, of Waukee, Iowa, Hannah Hollibaugh, Clara Hollibaugh, and Phillip, and his wife Luvia Hollibaugh, all of Kingwood, and Bobby Hollibaugh, of Menomonie, Wis.; eight great-grandchildren, brother-in-law, Robert, and his wife Barbara Allred, of Mission, Texas; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.