| Obit For | Dr. Robert L. Philibert, Sr. |
|---|---|
| Headline | Dr. Robert L. Philibert, Sr. - April 14, 1922 - January 28, 2010 |
| Text | Dr. Robert L. Philibert, Professor Emeritus, Missouri State University died Thursday, January 28 at his home in Shell Knob, Missouri. He was 87. Robert was born on April 14, 1922 in Sawyer, Kansas. His father Austin was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad and the family lived in a series of small towns throughout southern Kansas in the early 1920’s. Following his father’s death in 1926, Robert and family moved to the Parma, Idaho area where they lived for more than 10 years. Robert attended Ten Davis School and managed to complete the 8th Grade before he was forced to quit school and help on the farm. During the height of the Great Depression, Robert’s mother Elizabeth decided to return to her roots and moved her family to back to the Ozark hills. For Robert, it was to be the beginning of a life-long love affair with Shell Knob, Missouri. At the age of 16, Robert joined the Civil Conservation Corps (CCC), the Roosevelt-era work relief program. While stationed at CCC Camp 3753 in Shell Knob, Robert met his future wife of sixty-six years, Willena. The couple was married on December 6, 1942 at Ramona’s Marriage Place in Old Town, San Diego, California. Robert served with the 8th Army Air Corps, 379th Bomb Group, 445th Sub-depot, 782nd Service Squadron at Kimbolton, U.K and was discharged at the end of the war in November, 1945. Robert and Willena moved to Richmond, CA in 1946 where he was employed with Standard Oil in their research facility. It was in California that Robert decided to continue his formal education. Utilizing the benefits provided by the G. I. Bill, Robert attended night school and earned his GED. Robert and family returned to Missouri in 1948 where he began his college studies at Monett Junior College in 1948. He transferred to Southwest Missouri State College in 1950 and graduated in 1952 with his Bachelors of Education in Biology. During the mid 1950’s, Robert taught science classes at both Mt. Vernon and Monett High Schools. In 1957, Robert was awarded a Defense for Education national fellowship which allowed him to begin graduate studies at the University of Missouri, Columbia. He was awarded his Masters of Arts in Zoology in 1961, and Doctor of Philosophy in 1964. In the fall of 1963, Robert joined the faculty of the Life Sciences Department at then Southwest Missouri State College teaching classes General Zoology, Invertebrate Zoology, Physiology, and Endocrinology. After 23 years of teaching, influencing, guiding, and mentoring hundreds of students, Robert retired to Shell Knob in 1986. Although the pursuit of work, a World War, and educational pursuits would take him away from the hills, Robert would remain a Shell Knob-er till his last day. His in-depth knowledge of the history and legends of the area as well as his love of all things Ozarkian made him the go-to expert for local writers, historians, and genealogists. Robert was preceded in death by his wife Willena Rickman; parents Charles Benjamin Austin Philibert and Elizabeth Applegate; his brother Harold, sisters Clara and Bethel; and grandson Luke Stringer. Robert is survived by his sister; a son and two daughters, and their families. Visitation with the family is from 6-8 PM Tuesday, February 2 in the Fohn Funeral Home, Highway 39 in Shell Knob, MO. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday February 3 at 1:00 PM, Fohn Funeral Home, in Shell Knob, MO. Military honors and burial will take place in Painter Cemetery, Shell Knob following the services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in Robert’s name to the Biology Department at Missouri State University or for the CCC Camp Conservation Fund via the Lion’s Club of Shell Knob, MO. |
| Newspaper or Funeral Home | Cassville Democrat |
| Date | Feb. 3, 2010 |
| Death Cert | - |
| Resource | Barry Co. Advertiser |
| Submitted by | Phyllis Long |
Return to Obit Index || Return to 'P' Obit Index