Robert (Bob) attended his first eight grades in a one-room schoolhouse taught by one teacher. The family moved from their farm to Phillipsburg, KS, to enable Bob and his sister, Leila, to attend high school. During high school, Bob joined the Civil Air Patrol, pursuing a love for airplanes which he developed as a young boy, influenced largely by stories told by his uncle who served in World War II.
After graduation in 1958, Bob apprenticed as a plumber, learning construction skills which he would use for a lifetime.
In 1960, Bob joined the United States Air Force. He married Norma (Boucher) Jerby on June 4, 1961; a union which would produce a daughter, Lori, and a son, Brian. After Bob’s honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1965, which included a one-year service extension due to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the family returned to Phillipsburg, KS, where Bob accepted a position with the US Postal Service. His career with the post office would take him to Smith Center, KS, where he served as post master, then to Topeka, KS, and Salina, KS, where he would serve in executive positions until his retirement in 1998.
Upon retiring, Bob and Norma moved to Greenville, SC. There the couple became members of Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church. Bob also volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem where he served as a court advocate for children in need of care. He felt most rewarded in this role when he had a part in placement of a child in a good home with loving parents. Bob enjoyed collecting guns, airplanes (he owned and piloted his own plane for many years), helping others with home projects (he could repair or build anything), good conversation, and reading about history.
Bob is survived by his wife, Norma, of 58 years; a daughter, Lori (Larry) Schwartz and their sons: Joseph (Taylor), Joshua, and John; a son, Brian (Susan) Jerby and their children: Alexandra, Jonathan, Lia (Josh) Ludlow, Jessica, Heather, Grace, Eryn, Haddon, Nathaniel, and Samuel Jerby and a great grandson, Henry Schwartz.
The burial service will be held at M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans’ Cemetery, Anderson, SC, Friday, July 26, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. The memorial service will be held at Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church, Simpsonville, SC, Saturday, July 27, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Home for Children in Anderson, S.C.
