Robert H. 'Bob' Stewart

Robert H. "Bob" Stewart of Cuba, Missouri was born on November 16, 1931 in Cuba, Missouri to the union of Horace and Elizabeth (Nee: Burleson) Stewart and left from this life on Friday, November 27, 2015 at his home at the age of 84. Robert attended school in St. Louis, Missouri and then Mt. Vernon, Illinois where he graduated in 1950. He joined the United States Air Force in 1950 and served until 1954. Thirteen of these months were served in Korea during the Korean War Conflict where he received three battle Stars. He then returned to the United States to finish his military service in Utah. While in Utah, Bob attended the University at Salt Lake City. Upon discharge, Robert joined his parents in Cuba, Missouri where he met and married Joyce Dorf on April 1, 1956. They were married fifty-nine years and had two sons. The oldest son Robert Alan lives and works in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a supervisor in the air division of UPS. He and his wife Julie have two sons, Nicholas and Alexander. The second son Roger Alden is a Doctor of Chiropractic in Owensville, Missouri. Roger has two sons Samuel and Benjamin and a daughter Joyce. Robert lived in Cuba since 1954 and was an active member of the community. He attended the United Methodist Church where he served as President of the Administrative Council for five years, Trustee for twelve years, Choir Member for fourteen years and Sunday School teacher for five years plus was listed as a Lay Speaker. Robert served four years as the secretary of the first ambulance board in Crawford County and was one of the signers on the note to purchase the first ambulance. Robert served three terms as an alderman in Cuba and one term as mayor. He was also selected as a member of the first planning and zoning board in Cuba. Robert was a member of the American Legion for twenty-five years and a charter member of the VFW. While the children were small, Robert officiated high school basketball and baseball and received a rating from the state of l.16. He also served as a Cub Scout Leader and was Chairman of the Crawford County Boy Scout Council Fund Raising Committee for five years. Robert began working as a postal employee at the Cuba Post Office in 1960 as the first walking letter carrier when Cuba began house to house delivery. He also worked as a clerk and then went to the Leasburg office as a rural letter carrier. Bob worked a total of thirty-two years as a postal employee before retiring in 1990. Bob and his brother, Cliff, and several friends organized a group of musicians. They entertained at the Sr. Center in Cuba, at one of the local nursing homes and at the Veteran's Home in St. James as well as playing for shut-ins. Bird hunting was a favorite fall activity with family and friends. Golf was his game of choice for the summer and he enjoyed playing with brother Chuck, son Robbie, and grandson Nick. There are many hilarious stories about his skills on the course. Bob always had a story or joke to share with everyone he met. His ticket selling ability to many events was very well known throughout Crawford County. Robert (Bob) was initiated an Entered Apprentice into Cuba Lodge on July 21, 1961, was passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on August 26, 1961 and raised to a Master Mason on September 26, 1961. He went on to serve as Worshipful Master of his lodge in 1965. He earned all of his Degree Certificates starting in 1965 and was current on all of his cards as follows: Subdivision 1 Card - N27; Subdivision II Part 1 Card - N1; Subdivision II Part 2 - N1: Subdivision II Part III Card - N3; Subdivision II Card - G31. Bob had Subdivision cards I and II for forty five years. Bob served as District Deputy Grand Lecturer (DDGL) for eleven years under three Grand Lecturers - Freelon Hadley, Stanton Brown and Elmer Copling. His certificates were signed by several Secretaries with Elmer Wagner as the first. He began the 39th District Ritual Club in 1972 and was still very active in the club as well as serving as a ritualist for several lodges in the area. Bob conducted the funeral service for forty-five years covering an area from St. Louis to Waynesville and from Linn to Licking. He installed the officers in most of the lodges in the 39th district. Bob received the Scottish and York Rite Degrees and was a member of the Abou Ben Adhem Temple in Springfield, Missouri. He was a member of the Lodge of Research and belonged to the South Central Shrine Club. He was an invaluable aid and resource as co-chairman for twelve years with his brother Chuck as organizers of the annual South Central Golf tournament to benefit Shriner's Hospital. That legacy continues and the hospital has benefited by over one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars. During his Masonic life, it was a joy for Bob to coach many (probably well over a 100) candidates in the degree work and to present them for proficiency. He felt that something was lost when this was no longer required. He also gave lectures in and out of the district where ever needed. It was a special joy when both sons joined the lodge and son Roger went on to serve as Master of Cuba Lodge. Then to put the blue ribbon on his career, he was able to participate in the Masonic work when three of his grandsons joined Cuba Lodge. The most recent award Bob received was a special award given only to one person a year by the Grand Master of the State of Missouri Grand Lodge: the Truman Award. It included a very special medal engraved with his name and a small bust of Truman. This award recognized Bob's outstanding service and participation in his community as he represented the values of the Masonic Lodge. Bob is survived by his wife Joyce (Nee: Dorf) Stewart, sons Robbie and wife Julie and Roger and very dear friend Lori Adams, five grandchildren Sam, Nick, Alex, Ben, and Joyce E. Stewart, two sisters June Albrecht and Nancy and husband Don Fisher, sister-in-law Marilyn Stewart, brother-in-law Roger and wife Sandy Dorf, sister-in-law Emily and husband Woodrow Mosher, nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his father Horace and mother Elizabeth, three brothers, Bill, Chuck and Cliff, sister-in-law Jodi, brother-in-law Bill Albrecht and sister-in-law Joan Lee. Memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at the Cuba United Methodist Church, 903 W. Washington St., Cuba, Missouri. Masonic service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, December 12, 2015,with a Memorial Service to follow at the Cuba United Methodist Church with Pastor Joseph Frana and Pastor Kurt Schuermann officiating. If desired, memorials would be appreciated to Cuba Masonic Lodge #312 A.F. & A.M. or Cuba United Methodist Church. The Mizell Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Stewart family.

Visitation Details

Saturday, December 12th, 2015 9:00am - 11:00am, Cuba United Methodist Church

Service Information

Saturday, December 12th, 2015 11:00am, Cuba United Methodist Church