Robert Eugene Colville

CDR Robert (Bob) Eugene Colville USN (Ret) was born July 21, 1934 in Hopkins, MO to James Vernon and Ruby Violet (Baldwin) Colville. Bob was the second of four children born to Vernon and Ruby. He was raised in Hopkins, Clearmont, and Maryville MO attending the Union schoolhouse and graduating from Maryville High School in 1952. After completing two years of study at Northwest Missouri State University, Bob joined the United States Navy in hopes of becoming a naval aviator which he did serving on several aircraft carriers in his career. He served 21 years in the Navy achieving the rank of Commander before retiring. During his navy career, Bob completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in computer systems management. He received multiple commendations during his service during and after the Vietnam War. While stationed in the San Francisco Bay area, Bob met Janis Jane Oldham who was studying at the University of California. They married in 1959 and started their married life in Sunnyvale, California. Bob’s navy career took his family, which grew to include three children – Carl, Cara and Cassie, to multiple locations across the United States including California, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Virginia and Rhode Island.

After Bob’s retirement from the Navy, the family moved to a farm just outside of Maryville, MO. Bob farmed alongside his father and brother, Jim. When not farming, Bob gave back to his community by serving in multiple positions at the First Christian Church of Maryville, MO, as a member of the Pickering Lions Club, Men’s Forum, and as a member of the ELKS Lodge 760. However, Bob found his greatest reward in supporting public education – a passion that came from growing up in a family full of educators. He served on the Maryville RII Board of Education for 17 years and on the Board of Directors of both the Missouri School Board Association which included a term as president and the National School Board Association. 

Outside of work and volunteer service, Bob enjoyed skiing, collecting wine, reading about history, supporting NWMSU Bearcat football and traveling. In retirement, he and Jan frequently traveled to ski country with Bob continuing to ski to the age of 85. They also took frequent trips to various wine producing areas in California and Missouri with Bob being an ardent advocate for Missouri wine to his many friends across the country.

Bob passed from this world on Monday, February 23 at his home in Maryville. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Janis, his parents Vernon and Ruby, his brother Jim Colville, sister Kate (Colville) Harmon, and brother-in-laws Roger Harmon and Duane Quinn. He is survived by his sister Helen (Colville) Quinn; sister-in-law Connie Colville; son Carl Colville; daughters Cara Colville and Cassie (Colville) Ford; grandsons Christian Ford and Atticus Ford; granddaughter Machaela (Ford) Brooks and her husband Jordan; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, March 6 at noon followed by the funeral service at 1pm at First Christian Church of Maryville, MO. Internment will be at the Hopkins Cemetery following the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Maryville RII Educational Foundation or to the Northwest Foundation at Northwest Missouri State University.

Services are under the direction of the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville MO.