Robert Lighthizer

Robert Lighthizer, known lovingly as Bob or Pa, passed away December 2nd, 2021 at 89 years old, at his home while surrounded by his family in Linwood, Kansas. He was born February 15th, 1932 to LeRoy and Gertrude (Godfrey) Lighthizer in Kansas City, Missouri. As a young child, Bob developed a love for football, fishing, and spending time with family. He was a 1952 graduate of Raytown High School, where he enlisted in the Navy Reserve as a high school junior. After graduating high school, Bob served active duty for three years, followed by two years of inactive reserve service before being honorably discharged. While in the Navy and aboard the U.S.S. Boxer, Bob had the opportunity to travel the world, including crossing the International Date Line and spending time in Hawaii and Japan. After returning home and beginning his undergraduate degree, he took a chance on a blind date on November 5th, 1955. Little did he know, his date, Grace Kiloh, would turn out to be the love of his life and devoted wife of 65 years. It took only one date for each of them to stop seeing anyone else, a few weeks to discuss their future marriage and children, and four months to be engaged. They were married in a modest ceremony on September 21st, 1956. Bob was the first person in his family to graduate from college with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Central Missouri State College in 1959. He worked in the tire industry for the majority of his career while owning a sporting goods store in Kimberling City, Missouri. Bob was an avid, award-winning tournament fisherman with immense knowledge of wildlife and Table Rock Lake. He was a talented chef and barbeque competitor; he was known to order an entree from a restaurant and then blindly re-create the same dish, which always tasted better than the original. Bob was also a skilled woodworking craftsman and assisted in constructing several homes and hand-made furniture for his family. Bob became a father in 1963 with the birth of his daughter Lori. He and Grace went on to have two more children, Bob and Sara, in 1965 and 1967. As a dad, Bob provided a gentle listening ear for his children and fun opportunities whenever possible, such as bringing home oversized inner tubes for his three kids to use on the lake. In 2003, Bob suffered a massive stroke that resulted in immobility and lack of speech, but that did not stop him from remaining devoted to his family. Bob was a steadfast source of support as a husband, father, and grandfather. He will be remembered for his loving nature and compassion for others. He supported his kids and grandkids at graduation ceremonies, wedding celebrations, numerous sporting competitions, in their careers, and any personal accomplishments up until his passing. He was preceded in death by his father, Leroy Lighthizer, his mother, Gertrude Lighthizer, and his brother, Gene Lighthizer, of Raytown, Missouri. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Grace Lighthizer, as well as his three children: Lori Eaton (Todd) of Shawnee, Kansas, Robert E. Lighthizer Jr. (Barb) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Sara Gehrt (Mark) of Linwood, Kansas. He is survived by “The Magnificent Seven”, his special name for his grandchildren: Matthew Lighthizer, Brayden Lighthizer, Emily Bath, Katherine Gehrt, Mitch Gehrt, Carly Thomas, and Blake Eaton. Visitation will be 2-3pm Thursday, December 9th at the Church of the Resurrection West followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 3pm. A private interment ceremony will take place at a later date at Leavenworth National Cemetery.