Robert Harold "Bob" Spitzer Obit

Robert Harold "Bob" Spitzer
Jan 29, 1921 - Jan 12, 2014
Submitted by Martha Reddout

Robert Harold “Bob” Spitzer passed away January 12, 2014, at Yukon, Oklahoma at the age of 92. He was born to Robert Charles and Ella Jane Spitzer on January 29, 1921 on the family farm.

He was raised with three brothers and three sisters. Bob grew up in the Rose Hill Community, south of Cheyenne. He worked on the farm with his parents and siblings, going to school at Rose Hill and Cheyenne. He married Lela Belle White on January 7, 1942 in Sayre.

Bob left to serve his country in World War II when their oldest daughter, Sondra, was only three days old. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers, building bridges, tearing down bridges, working in road repair, setting obstacles and explosives, and also served in combat. He fought in five major campaigns: D-Day on June 6, 1944 at Omaha Beach, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes “The Battle of the Bulge,” and central Europe. He was awarded five Bronze Campaign Stars, one Silver Campaign Star, one Presidential Citation, and a ribbon of liberation for France, and a medal of merit for Czechoslovakia. Bob was small in stature, but larger than life in regards to faith, family and country. He was one of the patriots of “The Greatest Generation.”

When Bob returned home from the war, three more children, Jan, Jean Ann and Brad were born. They were also blessed with seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Bob was a long time Deacon at the First Baptist Church and also served as the custodian for six years. He led music in revivals among smaller churches in the area. Always a farmer, he and Lela Belle purchased a farm northeast of Sayre in 1959. The family worked together on the farm, tending to cattle and growing wheat, cotton, alfalfa and planting huge gardens every summer. Bob served on the Northfork Electric Cooperative Board for nine years and was a member of the Sayre Lions Club, where he served as president. He took a rural route carrier position with the United States Postal Service in the 1970s and later became a permanent carrier, retiring in 1986. Bob and Lela Belle worked together in the church. He was a deacon and she served in the children and youth departments. Later, she served as church hostess. When Lela Belle passed away in 2006, after 64 years of marriage, Bob continued to sing with the Sr. Adult choir and enjoyed the field trips and other activities. He continued to play golf nearly every day with his friends and family. He made two holes in one at the Sayre Golf Course.

He was preceded in death by his parents, all of his brothers and sisters, and one grandson, Buddy Harless.

He is survived by four children: Sondra Harless of Mustang, OK; Jan Reid of Yukon, OK; Jean Ann Bailey and husband Bud of Yukon, OK; and Brad and Dayva Spitzer of Sayre, OK. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Robin Zimms, Stephanie Harless, Tara Moyes, Erin Ezzell, Chris Reid, and Drew Spitzer; and four great-grandchildren: Hannah Zimms, Marin McCullough, Lela Moyes, and Braxton Harless, and a special friend, Virginia Williams, along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at the Sayre First Baptist Church, Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at 2 P.M. officiated by Rev. Gary Baird and Kelly Smith. Burial will be at Sayre-Doxey Cemetery under the direction of Rose Chapel Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Oklahoma Baptist Children’s Home. Condolences can be made online at www.whineryfs.com.

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This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma Cemeteries