Robert W. Alford (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Robert William Alford II, son of Bonnie Kathlyn King and Charles Ray Alford, Sr., was born February 6, 1952, in Galveston, Texas. He passed away Saturday, November 26, 2011, in St. John’s Hospital, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of fifty-nine years, nine months, and three days.
In 1970, he married Shirley Jackson, and to this union two daughters were born. He and Shirley were later divorced. Robert joined the United States Air Force in 1972, and during this time his family moved back to Missouri, and that is where he met Nancy Sue Yoakum. In 1974, they were married, and to this union two sons and one daughter were born during the thirty-seven years they shared.
He was preceded in death by his mother; two brothers, Charles Ray Alford, Jr., and Joe Lynderman Alford; a grandson, Kyle Henson; his maternal grandparents, Clyde and Jessie King; and his paternal grandparents, Robert William Alford I, and Esther and Bailey Simmons.
Robert is survived by his wife, Nancy Sue “Susie”, of the home; three daughters, Jessica Alford Kaffenberger, and her husband, Michael, of Lebanon, Missouri, Michelle Kuhn, and her husband, Dan, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Lisa Alford, of St. Petersburg, Florida; two sons, Steven Shane Alford and Bobby Lee Alford, both of Lebanon, Missouri; eleven grandchildren, Randy Kuhn, Derrick, Christian and Annie Jackson, Kian, Julie, Tyler and Tanner Alford, Kaylee Kincheloe, and Alexis and Preston Kaffenberger; a great-grandson, Adain Jackson; his father and step-mother, Charles Ray and Margot Alford, of Purdon, Texas; three brothers, Jerry Alford, and his wife, Mary, of Lebanon, Missouri, Patrick “Pitty Pat” Alford, and his wife, Sarah, of Orange, Texas, and Kendall Alford, and his wife, Katie of Groesbeck, Texas; four sisters, Linda McGowan, of St. Louis, Missouri, Della Kimmell and Theresa King, both of Lebanon, Missouri, and Amanda Alford, of Purdon, Texas; several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
Robert spent his early years in Galveston, Texas, where he attended Rosenberg Elementary School and Ball High School. He also attended First Baptist Church with his family. He was a polite, well-mannered young man, and loved to daily spend time on the beach. He and his surf board became well known figures on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. He also spent several summers on his grandparents’ farm in Laclede County, Missouri. During one of these summers, he accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized while attending Emmanuel Chapel Church with them. He was a talented artist and drew many landscapes of his travels during his early years.
Robert worked hard during his adult years, making a living for his family. He drove a semi-truck for Prime, Inc., and had his own construction company in Broomfield, Colorado. He also had a paint and body shop in Udall, Kansas. After he came back to Missouri, he was in automotive salvage, hauling parts from all over the country. In his later years, he loved buying and selling, wheeling and dealing, and taking his merchandise to the swap meets. Robert had the gift of gab, never met a stranger, and was a friend to all. Helping others made him happiest
Robert had several health issues during his lifetime, having recently been diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. The treatments and pain took its toll on him and he suffered a severe heart attack on November 26, 2011.
He loved his family above all things and would do anything within his power for them, even helping to raise his grandchildren. He will be sorely missed.
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