Robert Gene McDonald was born on July 26, 1931 west of Speed on the farm of his grandparents, Hugh and Mary (Stanton) McDonald and died at the Logan Manor on May 3, 2017. Bob lived with his grandparents on the farm until they moved into Phillipsburg when he started school. His grandmother died when he was in 5th grade and his grandfather died when he was in 8th grade. When Bob graduated 8th grade he lived with his mother Helen and step-father Gerald Bretton helping on the farm and working for other farmers south of Prairie View. The summer Bob turned 16, he drove a combine down the highway for John Vehige to harvest wheat up into South Dakota. When he got back to Prairie View after harvest, he moved to Atwood to work on a farm.

In 1950 Bob went to work on a drilling rig and in 1951 he was hired by Cities Service Oil Company in the Ray Pool at Logan. He worked for them until his heart attack August 1989. He retired at that time after 38 years with Cities Service.

Bob and Vada Erickson were married on October 1951. Bob left Logan for the Army November 1952. He was stationed at Camp Polk, Louisiana. He became an Army cook and later was promoted to Mess Sargent.
Vada joined him at Camp Polk January 1953. Their first daughter Carol Jean was born there in 1954. That fall, the family returned to Logan and his job at Cities Service. Mary Mabel, Robert Linn, and James LeRoy were born during this time. He retired from Cities Service after 38 years.

Bob was an active member of the Logan Christian Church and served as a Sunday School superintendent, taught Sunday School, and was an Elder. He held church services at the Logan Manor for 25 years and continued to volunteer at the Logan Manor until he became a resident there November 2014. Bob was known as one of the first to welcome people to Logan, inviting them to church, and offering to pick them up if they didn't have a ride.

During the 60s, he bought shoe repair equipment and started repairing shoes during the evenings and on Saturdays. He was active in Logan American Legion and enjoyed being part of Boy Scouts activities with his sons and grandsons. After he retired he liked attending auctions, spending time at the coffee shop, visiting the nursing home residents, and going on bus tours with his wife. On October 2013, Bob and Vada received the Volunteer Award of the Year from the Leaning Age Organization in Wichita for nursing homes for their 50 years of volunteering at the Logan Manor. Their family was there along with many from the Logan Manor and other friends.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years Vada; daughters Carol and husband Doug Haberman of Hays and Mary and husband Ron Dole of Hill City; sons Linn and wife Pam, and Jim of Logan; seven grandchildren; and fourteen great grandchildren. Two sisters Bette Townsend of Norton, and Alva and husband Dick Horn of Colby and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his mother Helen Bretton, daughter-in-law Crystal McDonald, two grandchildren, and three brothers Raymond, Dick, and Leland Bretton.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2017 in the Logan Christian Church, Logan, with Pastor Troy Buss officiating. Burial with military honors conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Logan.

Bob will lie in state from Noon until 9 p.m. Friday at the Logan Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to Hospice Services, Inc., Cookson Hills Children Home or organization of the donor's choice.