Robert "Bobby" R Beals

    Robert Richard Beals was born to Ocie (Gooding) and John Beals on September 22, 1935 in Lucas Iowa and departed this life on December 27, 2020 at the Chariton Nursing and Rehab at the age of 85.  Bobby was born in Lucas and spent most of his life there making many friends. 

He attended Lucas Elementary School until 8th Grade.  In his younger years Bobby walked all over town collecting pop cans and bottles, taking them to his friends, who would pay him for them.  When he later moved to the Chariton Group Home Bobby quickly found business owners on the Chariton Square who would take his cans.  While living in Lucas Bobby had a routine where he would walk the town, checking on his friends to make sure they were okay. His routine started with hanging the flag at the Community Building/Fire Station.  Occasionally it was upside down and one of the locals would correct it with a chuckle and a smile. Next Bobby would stop at the post office to see if there was anything going on, he should know about and take mail to some of his friends when the weather was bad.  After that he would check on friends on the East side of town, having coffee and a visit before crossing the highway to visit with Jack Boyd, and later Donna and Don Hall, at the gas station.  Here he would have coffee or a soda before crossing back across the highway to continue his rounds on the west side of town.  After visiting with everyone who was home, he would cross Hwy 65 to visit his friend Hal Polser.  Once he was satisfied that there was no news to be had there, Bobby knew where he could go to grab a quick bite to eat.  After his meal he would walk a few blocks up the street to get a piece of pie from another friend.  Then to home where supper was waiting for him.  All the walking that Bobby did kept him from gaining too much weight. Hookers Harness Shop and Rogers Hardware were also a couple of places he enjoyed visiting. 

Bobby acquired a dog while living in Lucas, Harley was his constant companion, even moving to the group home with him.  After moving to the Chariton Group Home friends would pick Bobby up on Saturdays, if the weather was nice and take him to Lucas to spend the day.  He never wanted to leave but would give in eventually.  Until he moved to Chariton and Rehab someone would make sure that Bobby was in Lucas every year for the Labor Day celebration.  He loved singing and playing his guitar for anyone who would listen as well as his banjo and harmonica. 

While at the group home he enjoyed going to ball games in Kansas City and St Louis with the group home manager, Donna Small, and some of the other residents. Bobby also loved going to camp in the summer.  Bobby never met a stranger and made friends with everyone he met.  He was always happy and smiling.  When the group home closed, Bobby moved to Crest Services where he met Dave Russell who would become a friend as well as a care giver.  During his time at the group homes Bobby work for TECO Industries.  He loved working there and spending time with the many friends he made there.    And the best part for Bobby was they gave him a paycheck.

 Bobby retired and moved to the Chariton Nursing and Rehab Center only when his health issues would no longer allow him to stay at the group home.  Bobby was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chariton and enjoyed going to Sunday School every week.  Bobby was 85 years young when he succumbed to COVID-19 at the Chariton Nursing and Rehab center.  The disease advanced quickly when he began showing symptoms and Bobby didn’t linger long. Bobby leaves to mourn his passing his niece Judy Sharp of Chariton, sister Opal Sharp of Lucas and many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews.    Special friends Joe and Kathy Egbert, Bob and Dee Cain, Karen and Mike Patterson, Jill Kerns and Mary Stierwalt as well as many others in Chariton and Lucas. 

Preceding Bobby in death were his parents, brothers, Paul and Orin (Toots) and his sister Alberta (Bertie).  Those who knew Bobby have many fond memories of him.

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