Robert Lee "Bob" Barnum, 62

Robert Lee “Bob” Barnum, 62 years, 9 months, and 13 days old, passed to heaven on July 27, 2012 at the Ava Country Club, where he spent a lot of his time.
Bob was born Oct. 14, 1949 in Detroit, Mich., to Laverne Edward “Barney” Barnum and Catherine (Churpdy) Barnum.
Bob was a lifelong resident of the Ava community. On May 7, 1976 Bob and Merlene Kay Prock were united in marriage in Ava, Mo.
He was a retired truck driver and mechanic. He was an Army veteran and served in the Vietnam War.
Bob loved his family and was totally in love with his grandchildren. Brandt Butler, who lives in Texas, held a huge part of his heart and he was so very proud of him.
Chloe Barnum stole his heart from day one. He was teaching her to play golf and especially teaching her to ride his horse, Sis, which is her passion.  Reid was his buddy and he talked every evening how Reid made him laugh.  Bob decided to take care of his grandchildren all summer and enjoyed fishing, canoeing, golfing and horseback riding with them.
Bob was saved as a boy and through many struggles in his life he recently found his way back to God. He served two years in Vietnam and struggled with the result of his involvement. He was a crew chief on a helicopter and survived four crashes which Kay had told Bob, “God kept you safe for a reason to experience all the love he found in his family.” He loved to fish, hunt, and play golf with his son, Josh. And also, loved playing golf with his son, Scott, whom he instilled to be a hard working man with values. Bob was very talented and could fix just about anything.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Laverne Edward “Barney” Barnum, father-in-law, Merl Prock, paternal and maternal grandparents.
Bob is survived by his wife, Kay Barnum, Ava, Mo.; two sons, Josh Barnum and wife, Shawna, Ava, Mo., and Scott Butler and wife, Kathy, Wells, Texas; four grandchildren, Brandt Butler, Chloe Barnum, Reid Barnum and Tori Turner; four sisters, Carol Fuller, Rebecca Burton, Sandra Archer, all of Ava, Mo., and Patricia Koehn, Nixa, Mo.; one brother, Wes Barnum, Carl Junction, Mo.; mother-in-law, Irene Prock, Ava, Mo.; special “brother” Dean Ridenour, Ava, Mo.; several nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Bob were Tuesday, July 31, at 10 a.m. in the Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava, with burial in the Ellison Cemetery with full military honors by Douglas County American Legion and Ava VFW. Visitation was Monday, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Officiating was Pastor James Hathcock. Memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH  45250-0301.
Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneral home.com.