Robert "Bob" Stanford

Robert “Bob” Stanford

Robert Lloyd Stanford passed away at home on December 24, 2018 after a brief illness.

Bob was born in Knoxville, IA to Bobby Jack and Darlene (Bingham) Stanford on January 3, 1955.  His siblings Catherine, Candy and Ron later joined the family.

Bob attended school in Melcher and Carlisle, graduating from Chariton High School with the class of 1973. He served in the Air Force, being stationed in California, during the Vietnam War.

Bob married Vicki Bingaman in July of 1976. Their daughter Michelle was born in August of 1977, with their son Bobby joining them in May of 1979.  The couple later divorced.  In November of 1988 he began dating Brenda Stebbins and they have been together ever since.  Brenda brought along her children Tim and Teresa to join the family.

Bob loved motorbikes, ATVs (really anything with wheels!), animals (especially Labs and cats of any variety), gardening and the Iowa State Fair.  His kids remember riding in fast cars, riding ATVs (which mom wasn’t happy about) and Indian corn being grown in the garden for decoration in the fall. Even when he moved to town to an apartment, he found ways to grow bucket tomatoes and other flowers to enjoy with his loved ones.  He was a master at playing the piano, often playing songs from the radio that his kids could dance around and sing to. He played many things by ear, only having lessons as a young child. He taught himself to go beyond what he learned in those lessons so that everyone could hear and enjoy his playing. Bob collected many, many things including Betty Boop and the glass isolators from the old electric poles.

Bob grew up helping his Grandpa Bus and Grandma Eilene Bingham at the Bingham Feed and Grain Elevator in Melcher, IA.  Later he would work with his Grandpa Bus in commercial fishing.  The pair also built the Robert’s Creek campgrounds at Lake Red Rock.  Through the years Bob worked many odd jobs from picking apples, to spraying houses, and selling firewood.  He worked many years at Morton Buildings.  Much of his work life was spent as a mechanic at C & C Cycle.  Bob worked on foreign motorcycles, becoming an expert on them, even though his true love was the good ol’ Harley Davison.

Bob leaves behind his life partner of 30 years, Brenda Stebbins.  His children, daughter Michelle (Michael) Swainey; son, Bob W. Stanford; step-son, Tim (Heather) Stebbins and step-daughter, Teresa (Kevin) Faux.  Also surviving Bob are his grandchildren, Jesse, Danielle, Sara, and Kane Swainey; Gabe and Devon Stanford; Jaelynn, Mackenzie and Derek Faux. Bob also had 7 great grandchildren.  He is joining his grandparents, Lloyd “Bus” and Eilene Bingham, Robert and Evelyn Stanford, and parents Bobby Jack Stanford and Darlene Larimer, who passed before him.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, December 28, 2018 at Fielding Funeral Homes in Chariton, IA from 6 to 8 p.m.  Interment will be held later at Oxford Cemetery in rural Lucas County.  Memorials may be made to the family.

We will see ya later kiddo!

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