Robert 'Bob' K. Lister

Robert Keith Lister of Prescott, Ariz., died on Feb. 24, 2014, at the Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott, Ariz. He was born to Joseph and Marjorie Lister on March 11, 1931. He lived in Kansas City, Missouri and Decatur, Georgia before moving to Wichita to live with his maternal grandparents, Walter and Margaret Smith. He graduated from East High School in 1949. He worked as a dance instructor at the Arthur Murray Dance Academy where he met Patricia Allen. They started dating … but instructors could not date the students so they had to keep it a secret. They became engaged shortly before he enlisted in the Air Force and was assigned to serve in Japan with the 6002nd Intelligence Operations Wing. Even though he qualified for pilot training, he withdrew from Officer Candidate School to get married on March 21, 1953. He then attended Wichita State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology. He began his career in City Planning as a draftsman for the Wichita Planning Department. He was recruited as a project manager for a planning firm in Boston, MA and then moved to Syracuse, NY where he worked in City Planning for nine years. He completed his Masters Degree from Maxwell School of Citizenship in Public Administration at Syracuse University. Desiring to get closer to family, the family moved to Manhattan, KS where he served as the Planning Director and also was an Adjunct professor in City and Regional planning at Kansas State University. He was an active pilot who held all ratings through instrument and multi-engine flight instructor. In his spare time, he flew charter jets and was involved in flying celebrities as well as football and basketball recruits for both the University of Iowa and Kansas State University. Seeking to follow his love of flying, he joined the FAA as a Flight Service Specialist. He moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1975 where he became a Flight Service Supervisor prior to transferring to Prescott, AZ in 1988. He retired from the FAA in 2002. Bob loved his retirement where he had time for golf and square dancing. His hobbies included reading, crossword puzzles, trivia and attending sporting events. His favorite pastime was traveling in the RV they bought in 2007. While he did not get to complete his goal of visiting every national park, they did visit 26 national parks in the RV. He also served as President of the Yavapai Roadrunners RV Club for the past three years. Bob and Patricia had three children: Barbara, Karen and David. They also have nine grandchildren including Scott, Kristin, Kimberly, Ryan, Tanner, Kaci, Brandon, Ryan, and Tyler and five great-grandchildren: Jason, Tara, Herman James, Evelyn, and Kiran. His legacy of honesty, integrity and high morals is alive in these children and grandchildren. He loved traveling with the family, especially to Kansas State games and the philosophy was always “the more the merrier.” He is survived by Patricia, his wife of 60 years; three children Barbara Yager, Santa Cruz, CA, Karen Cook and husband Dr. Randy Cook of Hays, KS, and David Lister and his wife Rosalee of Midland, MI; brother Richard Lister and wife Marcia of Palm Springs, CA; nine grandchildren Scott, Kristin, Kimberly, Ryan, Tanner, Kaci, Brandon, Ryan, and Tyler; and five great-grandchildren Jason, Tara, Herman James, Evelyn, and Kiran.