Stwalley Robert Lawrence “Papa”

Stwalley, Robert Lawrence “Papa”, 85, was born on December 6, 1925 in Arma, KS and passed away on November 9, 2011 in Wichita. Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 12 at White Chapel Memorial Gardens. Bob joined the Army Air Corp when he was 17 years old and became a ball turret gunner on a B17 during World War II with the 32nd Squadron of the 15th Air Force. He flew over 51 missions and flew 237 combat hours in the 1 years that he was in Italy. Upon his honorable discharge, he married his true love, Martha Hyndman Stwalley and celebrated 68 years of marriage at the time of her death on January 2, 2010. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He worked as a Metropolitan Life Insurance agent from 1965 to his retirement in 1991. Bob loved playing tennis, golf and shooting pool with his grandson-in-law, Garth Smith. He loved being with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the staffs of Sterling House Assisted Living of Derby and Clare Bridge Assisted Living Center for their love and care during his residency, and a special thank you for the compassion, comfort, and love of the Hospice Care of Kansas shown to his family and to Bob during his final hours. Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Stwalley, his parents and brother. He is survived by his son, Dave; daughter, Barb (Bill Scantlin); 5 grandchildren, Shay (Mark Whetstone), Brittney (Garth Smith), Regan (Joshua Mitchell), Amie (John M. Johnson), Matthew Scantlin (Christen); 12 great-grandchildren, Keaton Smith, Abby, Maddy, and Keegan Smith, Braeden, Caleb, and Chloe Mitchell with Baby Mitchell on the way, Korey and Cameron Johnson and Bailey and Tatum Scantlin. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for a good deed to be done for a Veteran of the United States. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.