Memorial Services for Robert Allen Heacock, 91, of Lawrence, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 12, at First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold, in Lawrence, Kansas. A private interment for family will take place at another time.
Mr. Heacock died on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
He was born November 21, 1932 in Altamont, Kansas, to parents Alvie Daniel Heacock and Erma Florine Brown Heacock. He graduated from Winfield High School in 1950, and attended Southwestern College in Winfield briefly prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1953.
He married Darlene Louise Cullumber on July 17, 1952, in Winfield, Kansas. She preceded him in death on January 15, 2009. He married Rev. Sandra Marie Stanford Walton on December 27, 2009. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include two sons, Rev. Douglas Heacock (Carolyn), Lawrence, KS, and Bradley Heacock (Patty), Lee’s Summit, MO; two daughters, Teresa Gottstein (Steve), Lawrence, and Anne Munsterman (Dave), Lawrence; two stepsons, Timothy Walton, Aptos, CA, and Tom Walton (Lori), Lawrence; and a stepdaughter, Angie Danner (Ralph), Offenburg, Germany; a brother, John Heacock (Ruth), Anderson, TX, and a sister, Vivian Howell (James), Liberty, MO; twenty-one grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
While serving in the U.S. Army, Mr. Heacock was assigned to the Army Corp of Engineers and was stationed at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. He worked there under Dr. Werner von Braun, on the development of the Redstone rocket, and was honorably discharged in 1955, having attained the rank of Corporal. Mr. Heacock received an Associates Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Capital Radio Engineering Institute, Washington, D.C., and also attended the University of Cincinnati. He worked in engineering groups at Boeing, Cessna, General Electric, RCA Corporation, and DuPont. In 1966 he returned to Kansas to work on a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas, graduating in 1969. During his time as a KU student he also taught in the electrical engineering labs. After graduation, he worked for FMC Corporation, Lawrence, for 29 years. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and served in many positions in the Kansas City section and as a representative on regional and national committees. He was a registered professional engineer in Kansas. He received many safety awards and other awards from ASME. In retirement he taught for six years in the KU School of Engineering as a visiting lecturer.
He was a long-time member of First Baptist Church, Lawrence, and served in many leadership roles there over the years, including singing bass in the choir and teaching Sunday School classes. He loved our family trips to the Blythe Spirit cabin in Colorado. In retirement, he wrote children’s stories and history books, repaired furniture, and enjoyed swimming, fishing, golf, and travel. In 2008 he became a licensed private pilot, and enjoyed flying for several years. Other hobbies included woodworking, sewing and tatting, model railroading, gardening, acting, amateur radio, hiking and sailing.
Mr. Heacock was a member of the Boy Scouts, Senior Scouts, and Cosmopolitan International.
The family will receive visitors at a reception following the service at the church on October 12.
Bob was truly a wonderful man, kind and thoughtful in all of his interactions with others. I know he will be dearly missed. My condolences to you, Sandy, and all the members of the Heacock/Walton family.
Bob was an inspiration. I only got to know him in the last ten years or so, but it seems like every time we met he had a story about one of his amazing experiences, or one of the many hobbies he picked up, which could have been full on professions themselves. Every year he’d say, “I think in about 10 years I think I might finally retire!” I’ll miss his energy, kindness, and sense of humor.
To Brad and Family, so sorry for your loss…May he rest in peace…Mike Hadl…Class of 75 LHS…
Bob was the ‘salt of the earth’ kind of person. He was talented in a wide array of unique areas. I especially appreciated the quality of his wood working skills.. Bob helped build the cabins at the church camp I attended in western Colorado. Also, he restored some ornate furniture at Central Seminary, my Alma Mater. Bob was so knowledgeable. You could visit with him about almost any subject. He will be deeply missed at FBC and the Lawrence community. Blessings for comfort and strength to his blended family.
Bob was a dear friend during my years in Lawrence. He and my husband Clark were in the bass section in choir, and Bob was our Sunday school teacher. My dining room table and a coffee table are still lovely after he refinished them after their many years of use. Then there were lunches and senior group trips, and so much more. I loved doing the editing on the church history Bob wrote. He will be singing with Clark in the choir of heaven now. A remarkable man.
I met Bob when I worked for the Indoor Aquatic Center years ago. He quickly became one of the “regulars” that I got to know who came in for lap swimming almost every morning. Such a genuine and kind man who was very proud to talk about his current and past accomplishments (rightfully so). I even got the pleasure of reading a copy of his autobiography that he brought in to me. A very empathetic, and endearing man who had so much to be proud of. My condolences to the family! Rest in peace, Bob.
Bob was a great man who accomplished so many things in his life! In addition to all of his adventures, he was a great teacher. I had the opportunity to meet him when he came to Quail Run Elementary School to teach our 5th graders all about building bridges! Every year, for 25+ years, he happily accepted my invitation to share his wisdom and help us build our bridges out of popsicle sticks! He was awesome and inspired so many individuals. His great sense of humor and smile will be dearly missed! Rest in peace.