Robert "Bob" Dale Hathaway

Bob Hathaway

Bob Hathaway, 77, of Unionville, MO, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, after a battle with cancer.

Robert Dale “Bob” Hathaway was born in Parsons, KS, on April 21, 1935, the son of Simeon Sampson and Beulah Mae (Bryan) Hathaway who preceded him in death. The family moved to Winston, MO, when Bob was young and lived there through his elementary years. Then they moved to Plattsburg, MO, where Bob graduated from High School in 1953. He joined the United States Naval reserves before graduation and requested active duty papers upon graduation, serving until 1955, spending 17 months in Japan in the aircraft supply department. He continued to serve in the Naval reserves until 1961. Bob returned to the states where he attended William Jewell College before transferring to Northwest Missouri College in Maryville. He worked full time in grocery stores and supermarkets in Maryville, following in his father’s footsteps.

Bob married Linda Lewin in St. Joseph, MO, on September 18, 1960, and she survives at home in Unionville. They opened a small grocery in Oregon, MO. Their oldest daughter, Lewellen, was adopted in 1965 and in 1967 the built a new supermarket in Unionville, MO, and it remains a family owned and operated business today.

Bob enjoyed his work, stating that his hobby was his work. But he also enjoyed fishing and following his grandchildren’s athletic events. He liked buying old cars. Bob was a member of the Unionville Lions Club, the Princeton Rotary and the American Legion Post #34 in Unionville. Bob was a Mason and Shriner. He was baptized as a young person at a Baptist Church Camp.

In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his three daughters, Lewellen Singley and Liz Steele and husband Jim, all of Unionville, MO, and Alison Boles and her husband Eric of Shawnee, KS. His grandchildren are Jessica Steele, Katie Fairley and her husband Canaan, Simon Boles, and Sarah Boles. Bob’s surviving sister is Mary McClelland and her companion Clarence Mears of St. Joseph, MO. He was preceded in death by a brother, William Henry Hathaway and a son-in-law David Singley.

Funeral Services for Bob Hathaway will be at the Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery, Unionville, MO.

Memorials are suggested to the Unionville Lions Club and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.