Robert Earl Lightwine, age 72, passed away Monday, February 11, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona. He was born February 28, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son Harold Lee Lightwine and Maida Belle Parker Lightwine.
Bob graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1965. He joined the Navy in August of 1965 and served for six years. One defining year of service was spent in the “Brown Water Navy” Riv-Ron 112-11 division from February 1967 to February 1968 where he patrolled the waters of the Mekong Delta. Bob was very proud of his military service and was a member of the Mobile Riverine Association.
He married Esther Connolly Graves on February 7, 1970. They had just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on Thursday prior to his passing. Bob retired from Sears after thirty years in the appliance repair business. During his retirement years Bob enjoyed fishing and traveling across the United States in his RV reminiscing with family and friends. Bob and Esther enjoyed spending the winters in Apache Junction, Arizona. Bob was a member of the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, a life member of the VFW and the Joplin Elks Lodge #501.
Survivors include his wife, Esther; sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and Sid Colwell, of Ft. Scott, Kansas, Carol and Alan Lytle, of Spring Hill, Kansas and Harold Connolly, also of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are nieces and nephews, Pam Hightower (Wayne), of Ft. Scott, Kelli Matlock (Robert), of Deerfield, Missouri, Les Lightwine (Mary), of Clever, Missouri, Howard Lee Lightwine (Anne), Zionsville, Indiana, Anthony Lightwine (Jamie), of Nevada, Missouri, Michael Lightwine, of Deerfield, Jana Walker (Shane), of Ft. Scott, Katrina Colwell, of Jackson, Missouri, Alissa Thompson (James), of Jackson, Missouri and Matt Lyman, of Leonardville, Kansas. Also surviving are numerous great-nieces and great-nephews and many special friends across the United States.
In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Michelle Lynn Graves Poteet, a sister, Eula Irene Hays; two brothers, Harold Leon Lightwine and Howard Lee Lightwine and two cousins that his parents raised as his brothers, Charles “CJ” Hamilton and William “Bill” Hamilton.
Father Yancey Burgess will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 19th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.
Burial with military honors will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.
The Rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Visitation will follow 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.
Memorials are suggested to Wreaths Across America or Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com