Robert E. Staats

Robert E. Staats, age 88, of Bloomington, died Sunday morning at his residence. Born May 26, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of Claude and Gladys (Crum) Staats. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel having served during World War II and the Korean War. He attended both Indiana and Purdue Universities. After the military he worked in Bloomington with his father at Staats Lumber Mill and later was a manager at Howard Johnson Hotel. He was a member of American Legion Post 18, B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #446 ,the Quiet Birdman pilots association, a recipient of the Balfour Award, and a lifetime member of the I Men’s Association. His hobbies included being a Chicago Cubs Baseball fan, an avid golfer, piloting, and spending his winters in Florida.

He is survived by his son, James Staats, of Bloomington, his step-daughter, Cynthia “Cindy” Stipanov, of Eureka, California; two grandchildren, Jamie (Ryan) Gober, of Reno, Nevada and Danny Marconi, of Eugene, Oregon and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Charles “Charlie” Staats, and a daughter, Roberta.

The funeral service will be on Thursday at 1:30 P.M. at Deremiah-Frye Mortuary, Greene and Harrell Chapel with Rev. Michael Douglas officiating. Burial will follow in Valhalla Memory Gardens where the Veterans Honor Guard will provide military graveside rites. Friends may visit the family at the funeral home from 11:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. on Thursday.

In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the American Legion Post #18; 1800 W. Third St; Bloomington, Indiana 47404.