Herbert (Bob) Preston Stallcup, 87, son of Preston C. and Mary (Stottlemyre) Stallcup, was born Sept. 21, 1928, in Upton, Mo. He passed away Nov. 24, 2015, at Texas County Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Floyd, Short, John and Jerb; and sisters, Leah, Goldie, Hazel and Shirley.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn (Fetrow) Stallcup of Bucyrus; two daughters, Mary (Ray) Wiley of Crane, Mo., and LeAnn D. Stallcup (Jimmy Geick) of Marshfield, Mo; one son, Steve (LeAn) Stallcup of Bucyrus, Mo.; One granddaughter, Lacey (Brian) Campbell of Mountain Grove, Mo.; two grandsons, Jake Warfel of Nixa, Mo., and Levi (Kaitlyn) Stallcup of Bucyrus, Mo.; two great-grandsons, Ridge and Raylan Campbell of Mountain Grove, Mo.; and two sisters, Velma Minnis of Chillicothe, Mo., and Wilma Reik of Texas.
Bob was born the tenth of 11 children and lost his mother at the age of 3. He was raised by his sisters while his dad and brothers worked on ranches nearby.
He started school at Coffey School in Upton but spent most of his school years in Loma, Mont., finishing the eighth grade. He and his dad moved to Montana to do ranch work. Bob was 13 years old when he started driving a truck, hauling wheat. He also helped his Dad herd sheep during the summer months.
When Bob was 20, they moved back to Missouri and he started his own farm.
In March of 1951, during the Korean War, he was drafted into the Army and served as a combat engineer. He was discharged in 1953. He then moved back to Montana and started working for his brother as a ranch hand.
He and his dad would travel back to Missouri during the winter months. While here in 1954, he met Evelyn and they were married May 25, 1955. They celebrated their 60th anniversary in May of this year.
Bob and Evelyn immediately moved to Loma, Mont., and then onto Fort Benton, where their daughter, Mary, was born.
In the spring of 1957, they moved back to Missouri. Bob started working at MFA and later he worked as a carpenter.
In 1960, their daughter, LeAnn, was born. In 1965, their son, Steve, was born and the family moved from north of Houston to Upton, back to the farm where Evelyn grew up. They soon started a dairy business and continued milking for 20 years. Shortly after that, they started a beef cattle business and ran a herd for the next 30 years. As Bob’s health started to decline, his son, Steve, and grandson, Levi, took over to keep the farm going.
Bob and Evelyn began attending services at Ben Davis Church of Christ and both were baptized in 1982. God and church has been a very important part of their lives and Bob served as a song leader for many years.
Bob loved to visit with anyone, anywhere and also loved to sing to everyone. He spent many mornings drinking coffee and visiting with friends and neighbors.
He truly enjoyed the company of his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. He loved to read to his grandchildren, reading the Cat in the Hat until he and Lacey both had it memorized!
He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend.
He was always looking for ways to help his family and friends and felt that God had given him each day to enjoy and live for him.
He will be truly missed, but we know that he is enjoying the beauty of Heaven, singing with the angels and rejoicing in the presence of the One he has so long desired to meet.
Services were 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, at Evans Funeral Home with Ed Williamson officiating. Burial with full military rites followed in Hickory Ridge Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers were Levi Stallcup, Jake Warfel, Brian Campbell, Ray Wiley, Mark Stallcup and Cory Stallcup.
The family respectfully suggests that donations be made in his honor to Concord Cemetery, in lieu of flowers. To send an online condolence, please go to www.evansfh.com.
PAID