Obituary for Robert Lawrence McEwen
Robert L. “Larry” McEwen, 85, Raytown, Missouri passed away Friday, January 22, 2021 at Kansas City Hospice House. Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 29, 2021 at Spring Hill Cemetery, Spring Hill, Kansas. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, 712 S. Webster, Spring Hill, Kansas 66083 (913)592-2244. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com
Robert was born September 8, 1935 to Leroy and Edris McEwen in Little Rock, AR. He was one of six children. He was raised in Little Rock, AR, graduated from Little Rock High School and attended one year at Little Rock Junior College from 1953-1954.
Robert served eight years with the Arkansas Air National Guard and rose to the position of Chief Observer in the Weather Flight. In 1955, Robert completed the sixteen weeks weather school at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. In 1959, he was employed by the CBS television affiliate in Little Rock, AR as a TV weatherman.
Robert joined the National Weather Service in 1960 and first served the "JAWS" project in the Northwest Territories of Canada at both Eureka and Alert Weather stations. From 1961-1966, he served in several positions in the National Weather Service Headquarters in the Washington D.C. area. From 1967-1971, he was stationed at the Weather Service Observatory in Little Rock, AR. In September 1971, Robert became a member of the National Weather Service Training Center staff in Kansas City, MO and served as a senior instructor until his retirement in 1990. He was loved and respected by his students and colleagues.
On June 28, 1969, Robert married Deborah Priest in Little Rock, AR. Last June, they celebrated 51 years of marriage. He was widowed November 14, 2020 at her passing. Only 69 days later, he joined her in Heaven and is reunited with his beloved "Debbie".
Robert is survived by one sibling, Sandra Keeton of Sherwood, AR, Rebecca Skoog, his only child and five grandchildren. He was a follower of Christ, a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather and friend to many. He will be missed until we meet again.
Robert was born September 8, 1935 to Leroy and Edris McEwen in Little Rock, AR. He was one of six children. He was raised in Little Rock, AR, graduated from Little Rock High School and attended one year at Little Rock Junior College from 1953-1954.
Robert served eight years with the Arkansas Air National Guard and rose to the position of Chief Observer in the Weather Flight. In 1955, Robert completed the sixteen weeks weather school at Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois. In 1959, he was employed by the CBS television affiliate in Little Rock, AR as a TV weatherman.
Robert joined the National Weather Service in 1960 and first served the "JAWS" project in the Northwest Territories of Canada at both Eureka and Alert Weather stations. From 1961-1966, he served in several positions in the National Weather Service Headquarters in the Washington D.C. area. From 1967-1971, he was stationed at the Weather Service Observatory in Little Rock, AR. In September 1971, Robert became a member of the National Weather Service Training Center staff in Kansas City, MO and served as a senior instructor until his retirement in 1990. He was loved and respected by his students and colleagues.
On June 28, 1969, Robert married Deborah Priest in Little Rock, AR. Last June, they celebrated 51 years of marriage. He was widowed November 14, 2020 at her passing. Only 69 days later, he joined her in Heaven and is reunited with his beloved "Debbie".
Robert is survived by one sibling, Sandra Keeton of Sherwood, AR, Rebecca Skoog, his only child and five grandchildren. He was a follower of Christ, a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather and friend to many. He will be missed until we meet again.