| Bio | Robert Lee "Bob" Barr, 53, of Arkansas City, Kansas, formerly of Independence, died on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at the South Central Kansas Regional Medical Center in Arkansas City. Bob was born May 13, 1953, in Independence, Missouri to Charles B. and Venice L. (Nielsen) Barr, and he graduated in 1971 from Van Horn High School in Independence. Bob was active in sports throughout his life. He played baseball in the Ban Johnson and Stan Musual Leagues in this area. He was drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1971, but chose instead to attend Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. While at Phillips, he helped pitch them to two NAIA National Tournaments and graduated in 1975. He signed with the Kansas City Royals after graduation, played that year in their minor league system and played briefly with the Royals in 1976 until an injury ended his career. After baseball, Bob taught school for several years in Arkansas City. He later taught in Douglass, Kansas, and went on to earn a master's degree in Education from Southwestern College of Winfield, Kansas. At the time of his death, he was the Technology Director of the Unified School District 396 of Douglass. In addition to teaching, he coached baseball and basketball in Arkansas City from little league through high school. He was an avid golfer and bowler, but his favorite activity was attending his children's events. He was a member of the Random Road Chapel and of the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America. Bob was married to Melody Patterson August 3, 1985, at the Central Christian Church of Arkansas City. He is survived by Melody and by a daughter, Melissa, and a son, Bradley, all of the home; his mother, Venice N. Barr, of Independence; two sisters, Arlene and her husband, Wayne Williams, of Eagle Mountain Utah, and Ruth and her husband, Bob Speaks, of Independence; parentsin-law, Duane and Darlene Patterson, of Arkansas City, many nieces and nephews and his faithful companion and beloved dog, Penny. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles B. Barr, and by a great-niece, Kathleen Williams. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2007, at the First Presbyterian Church of Arkansas City, with interment in Memorial Lawn Cemetery there. Friends may greet the family from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the RindtErdman Funeral Home, 100 E. Kansas Avenue, Arkansas City, Kan., telephone (620) 442-3210. A memorial has been established for the education of Bob's children, either through the funeral home or Union State Bank of Arkansas City (at website www.usbankcity.com). Online condolences may be left for the family at www.rindt-erdman.com.
Published in the Kansas City Star on 3/8/2007. |
