Paul Robb
Paul Robb was a man who believed in working hard and helping others however he could.
"There wasn't a more kind, generous guy," said Paul Robb Jr., Mr. Robb's oldest son. "Dad would do anything for anybody within his power and abilities. It didn't matter if he knew you or not. He was generous, and he loved his family."
Paul Robb of Columbia died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 73.
Matthew Robb, Mr. Robb's youngest child, said his father had very old-school values.
"If there were more people like him, there wouldn't be all this stuff going on today," he said.
Mr. Robb was born in Columbia on Jan. 29, 1938 to Willis and Georgia Robb.
He met his future wife, Gloria (Sheets) Robb, on a blind date set up by her sister and brother-in-law. After seven months of dating, they married on April 2, 1966.
Gloria Robb said Mr. Robb grew up in Columbia and was a typical boy.
"He used to go to the back of a little grocery store in town and steal soda bottles,"she said of her husband. "Then he'd walk around to the front and sell them back to the store so he could get money to go to the movies."
Mr. Robb worked for the Columbia Municipal Power Plant from 1965 to 1980, and he owned many area service stations, car sales and rental and other businesses.
He also served in the U.S. Army as part of the Military Police, Army Reserves and the Army National Guard. He retired as staff sergeant. During his career, he was trained as a veterinary specialist and a food inspector, where he traveled to various meat markets and checked the quality of meat that was served to the military. He was awarded the extended service ribbon.
Mr. Robb also received a meritorious service award from the Columbia Police Department after he stopped someone from shooting an officer. He was outside his service station at the corner of Walnut and Providence Road when a police car stopped at the light. A suspect in the car got out of his handcuffs and went for the officer's revolver. Mr. Robb saw this and was able to stop him, Gloria Robb said.
Mr. Robb also enjoyed pool and bingo and was a member of the APA and TAP pool leagues. He was awarded the first ever TAP sportsmanship award in 2005 as well as the TAP league MVP the same year.
"When he got to the point of being in a wheelchair with an oxygen mask, I picked him up and took him to the games," son Matthew Robb said. "He was committed to that team, and even though he couldn't stand up and play, he wanted them to know that he was there for them."
Grandchildren were also very important to Mr. Robb, and he would light up when they came around, Matthew Robb said.
"He owned a gas station down on the Business Loop, and every other day the grandkids would come in and we would tell him not to give them any candy or soda, but he let the kids get whatever they want."
Mr. Robb is survived by his wife, Gloria Robb; three sons, Paul Robb Jr. and his wife, Diane, Mark Robb, and Matthew Robb and his wife, Melody; a daughter, Christina (Robb) Elias and her husband, Michael; grandchildren Nathan, Jessica, Pamela, April, Elijah, Austin, Cynthia, Bret, Allison and Amanda; great-grandchild Caleb; and step-grandchildren Lori and Toni.
Three brothers, Bill Robb, Raymond Robb and Dean Robb; and a sister, Dorothy Robb, died earlier.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Parker Funeral Service & Crematory, 22 N. Tenth St. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery on East Rollins Street in Moberly.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Boone Hospital Foundation.
Condolences can be posted at parkerfuneralservice.com.
