Robert Box, 82, died Monday (April 2, 2007) at Kansas Medical Center in Andover.
He was born July 16, 1924, in Newton to Henry Garvin and Pearly May (Fisher) Box.
He married Pauline Welboan on May 9, 1943, in Newton. She survives at home. He served in World War II in the South Pacific in the submarine SS Tambor 198 in the U.S. Navy. The USS Tambor SS 198 was involved in many naval conflicts throughout the South Pacific. These included Wake Island, Midway Island, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Austrailia, Caroline Islands, Saipan and the East China Sea. He was a member of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. He attended the Japanese Surrender at Tokyo Bay.
He was a railroader for 37 years. He started as a switchman and retired in 1984 as a supervisor of operations in Winslow, Ariz. After retirement, he and Pauline moved to Temple, Texas, where they lived for 21 years. They returned to Newton in 2005 to be with their family. He loved to fish and enjoyed his "nap time." Everyone knew him for his hard work and his love for his family.
Survivors also include daughter, Jonniesa Pearl Hawk and husband Daniel of Newton; daughter Joleen Frances Wolf of Newton; daughter, Evee Robin Van Rossun and husband Delbert of Temple, Texas; son Robert Garvin Box of Clearwater, Fla.; brother, Dwayne Albert Box and wife Judith of Newton; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Garvin Box, mother, Pearly May (Fisher) Box, brothers, Samuel Kenneth Box and Willie Wesley Box, sisters, Cleta Rivers Box and Letha Margaret Fraser, and son-in-law, Ronnie Wolf.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday with family present from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton.
Service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Petersen Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bill Hickerson of First United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery.
1924 - 2007 (82 years)