Robert Edward "Sunny" Schrader

Robert Edward Schrader of Bella Vista, Arkansas, 86, died May 4 at Mercy Hospital, Rogers, AR. He was born February 27, 1926 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana to Robert Michael Louis Schrader and Bertha Gertrude Miller Schrader. He is known to the family as “SUNNY,” although many know him as Bob, Robert, or R.E. Schrader.

Growing up in Terre Haute, he attended Gerstmeyer Tech before enlisting in the US Navy in January 1944. He was stationed in various naval stations around the US, eventually based in Hutchinson, KS where he was discharged February 27, 1947.

After the Navy, his employment began at Hilton Electric Co., Inc. in February 1947 where he was a salesman for western Kansas, then General Manager, part owner with three other employees, and then sole owner in 1985. He remained active at Hiltons until the close of business on February 10, 2001.

Very involved in community and civic affairs in Hutchinson, Bob was a member of the Jaycees and served as representative to Fathers Incorporated where he was a charter member. He was active with that group for 13 years during which time he served as Admission Chairman for Twin Oaks Boys Home. He served 14 years in Civitan International and was one of the early Presidents of the organization. He served as Lieutenant Governor for Zone 3 and a variety of other Oklahoma-Kansas offices of Civitan International.

Bob was also active in the community development for downtown and served on the Mayor’s Downtown Advisory Committee of Hutchinson, KS for two years. He joined the Hutchinson Masonic Lodge in 1967 and is currently a member of the Bentonville Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the Wichita Scottish Rite for 35 years, and is now a member of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite. He also belonged to Shrine for several years. A member of the Moose Lodge since 1975, he was a member of the Eagles Lodge for two years.

As part of his passion for motorcycles and proud owner of a Honda Gold Wing, he was a member of the Moose Motorcycle Club, organizing many group rides and activities.

Bob was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hutchinson since 1961 where he served as a Sunday school teacher at the First Baptist Church Mexican Mission for several years. After relocating to Bella Vista in 2001, he became a member of the Bella Vista Community Church.

Bob married Ione McMillen on July 10, 1946, and they had two children who survive – Robert Schrader and his wife, Betty, Bella Vista, AR and Roberta Schrader Jackson and her husband, Noel, Rickmansworth, England.

Bob married Sue Sprague on November 19, 1988 who survives. Bob is also survived by his siblings Maxine Hays, Baldwin Park, CA; Wayne Schrader, New Haven, IN; Donna Howard, New Haven, IN; Joy Roderick, Irvine, CA; and Ralph Schrader, Terre Haute, IN. He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Steed and brothers, Jim Schrader and Chap Schrader.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 8 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and again on Wednesday, May 9 from 9:00 a.m. until Bob’s Funeral Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. at the Roselawn Funeral Home, 7500 N. Clinton St., Terre Haute, IN. 47805. Interment will follow in Roselawn Memorial Park. A memorial service will be held at Bella Vista Community Church, 75 East Lancashire Boulevard, Bella Vista, AR 72714 on Saturday, May 19 at 1:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bella Vista Community Church. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family online at www.roselawnfuneralhome.net