Robert Kalar

Robert Lee “Bob” Kalar, 82, a resident of Parsons, departed this life Wednesday evening, Dec. 20,  at the Davis Memorial Hospital at Elkins. He had been in declining health and death was attributed to congestive heart failure.

He was born Tuesday, Sept. 2, 1924, at Parsons, a son of the late Lloyd Kalar and Lula Mae Schoonover Kalar Loughry.
On Oct. 10, 1948, at Parsons, he was married to the former Lolita Carolyn Haddix, who survives. They had celebrated 58 years of marriage.

Also surviving are one son, Michael Lee Kalar and wife LeAnn of Summerfield, S.C.; three daughters, Madonna Carolyn Stokes and husband Richard of Elkins, Rebecca Marlayne Nestor and husband Donald of Parsons and Charlotte Kaye Lee and husband Jimmy of Jackson, N.J.; one sister, Mary “Tootie” Hovatter of Parsons; nine grandchildren, Angela Simmons, Allison Nestor, Valerie Rudy, Gretchen and Cameron Kalar, Christie Olowsky, Justin Smith, Cheryl Scott and Lisa Fazenbaker; and five great-grandchildren, Dylan & Rebekah Simmons, Nicole Olowsky, Jeremy Smith and Xavier French.

Preceding him in death were one daughter Jennifer Ellen Elza; one brother John W. Kalar; and six sisters Jennie Ambrose, Lucille Hinchman, Helen Robinson, Rachel Hovatter, Hilda Strawderman and Gladys Barb.

He was a graduate of Parsons High School with the class of 1943. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in World War II in England, France and Germany as a military policeman on the military railway. He was one of the first mail carriers in Parsons.  Bob began working as a clerk for Barb’s Drug Store on Oct. 7, 1947. He worked his way into the pharmacy and eventually became the store’s manager, a title he held beginning in the mid 1960's until the store’s closure in March of 1999. He was also employed by Rite Aid Pharmacy from March 1999 until 2004. He had been an assistant to 14 pharmacists through the years and eventually became a licensed technician when it became required to have certification. He received the award of Employee of the Year during 1984. 

He was past master and chaplain of Pythagoras Lodge #128 A.F. & A.M., and was honored in 2006 as a 50-year member. He was a member of the Scottish Rite in the Osiris Shrine Temple. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, where he served as the church’s lay leader, Treasurer, was a member of the choir and an active member of the administrative board.  He was inducted into the Parsons High School Alumni Hall of Fame in 1994. Besides his family, his passion was serving the public and helping those who had a need. He was known for his pleasant personality and always having a smile.

The family received friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons Saturday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 24, Mr. Kalar was moved to First United Methodist Church where friends may call from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m., the funeral hour. The Rev. Jeff Anderson officiated and interment followed at the Bethel Cemetery at Holly Meadows where the Pythagoras Lodge #128 A.F. & A.M. conducted ritualistic services. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Robert Lee “Bob” Kalar. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.  

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2001, Janet Cooper

This Page was last updated -- Thursday, 04-Jan-2007 21:23:59 MST.