| Birth: | Sep. 2, 1922
Le Mars
Plymouth County
Iowa, USA | | Death: | Feb. 6, 2011
Comus
Montgomery County
Maryland, USA | 
Obituary
Frederick News-Post, February 9, 2011
Mr. G. Robert Checkley, 88, of Comus, died Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, at his daughter's home in Fredericksburg, Va.
Bob was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Norma June (Bagley) Checkley.
Born Sept. 2, 1922, in Le Mars, Iowa, he was the beloved son of the late Alfred and Flora Goodwin Checkley.
Surviving are his four daughters, Carol Checkley of Comus, Janice Connell (Charlie) of Houston, Texas, Gini Guentner (Bob) of Vernon Hills, Ill., and Sharon Skipper (Rick) of Fredericksburg, Va.; 11 grandchildren, Katie, Celeste, Charles, Sean, Joshua, Brian, Jonathan, Emily, Nathan, Brandon and Robbie; and six great-grandchildren, Eli, Noah, Jadon, Katelyn, Payton and Evalyn.
Bob was preceded in death by his brother, Wilfred; and two granddaughters, Sandra Sue and Lauren.
During World War II, Bob served his country by enlisting in the Army shortly after Pearl Harbor. He began as an infantry soldier and quickly advanced in rank and position as a gunnery instructor. When volunteers were needed for the Army Air Corps, he became a belly gunner on a B-24. He flew many dangerous missions from New Guinea to bomb mainland Japan as part of the 13th Air Force, 371st Bomber Group, 307th Squadron. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
After the war, Bob attended and graduated from the University of Michigan where he earned his B.S. in engineering and lettered in gymnastics. During his long career as a Chrysler Corp. automotive engineer, he specialized in the ground-breaking concept of fuel economy. He placed first in several cross-country mobile economy runs, always beating his boss.
At the end of his engineering career, Bob returned to his childhood roots as a farmer. He succeeded his father-in-law, Marion Bagley, as the owner and farm manager of the Farr/Bagley farm, a cow-calf operation in Comus.
His life's passion was farming, but when asked what he was most proud of, his answer was "being a father."
In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Bob's charity of choice, the Fisher House; FisherHouse.org.
Family links:
Spouse:
Norma June Bagley Checkley (1925 - 2008)*
*Calculated relationship
| | | Burial:
Monocacy Cemetery
Beallsville
Montgomery County
Maryland, USA
Plot: Row L, Lot 46 Lower, Site 6 |
Maintained by: Marilyn Harrison
Originally Created by: Glenn Wallace
Record added: Apr 13, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 68332492 |
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