Robert W Speers

Retired Army Captain Robert W Speers will receive full military honors on May 19, at 1 p.m., at the Pavilion in Fort Smith National Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be left on the memorial site established for him at: www.mykeeper.com. In World War ll Bob served in the 82nd Airborne 508 PIR parachuting into Normandy on D-Day and again into Holland earning his second combat star. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge as an Infantryman. Robert was born in Owosso, Michigan, on May 19, 1923, he was survived by two of his four daughters, five grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. When Bob retired from the Army after 20 years he went on to further develop his organizational skills as a securities rep for Waddell and Reed. In 1970 he joined the American Cancer Society serving as District Rep for Arkansas' 25 Western counties. In 1978, he transferred to Tulsa to become the Executive Director of the Eastern Oklahoma Division. On retiring from the Society in 1994 he established and ran Speers Enterprises until permanent retirement in 2001. Bob was always an engaged and active community member. For 25 years he and his wife Ruth were active members of God in Memorial Church, he served many times as a voting poll official, he was a member of many civic organizations such as Rotary. Bob's most rewarding service was as a member of the 508 PIR and three times past association president. In his lifetime Bob was a prodigious reader and collector of books, hunter, fisherman, artist, traveler. His grandchildren taught him how to enjoy life and his great-grandchildren were a fascinating joy.