Robert “Bob” Albert Ironside Jr. passed away September 6, 2021. He was born on November 29, 1930, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Robert Albert Ironside Sr. and Mary Agnus Turconi. In 1941, Bob moved with his family to an early 1800’s farm house in Fairfield, Connecticut. Rustic amenities, but plenty of home grown produce, chicken, eggs, fish, and clams, helped Bob appreciate a lifestyle of earlier times. The old farm house sparked his interest in wood and craftsmanship. Elementary school woodshop classes led Bob to industrial arts courses in high school but the low-quality furniture that was made immediately after World War II had him reconsider future jobs, so Bob changed his mind and transferred to a scientific program.
After graduating high school in 1948, Bob joined the Connecticut National Guard. He rose to the rank of Sergeant during his two-year enlistment. This earned him a competitive appointment to the United States Military Academy in 1950. Prior experience in the Boy Scouts and the National Guard prepared Bob for the academic discipline and physical requirements of the Beast Barracks. He graduated from West Point in 1954.
Between graduation and the Signal Officer’s Basic Course, Bob rekindled an acquaintance with Patricia “Pat” Ann Kearns, whom Bob met during Ring Weekend in 1953. Assignment to Tobyhanna Signal Depot in eastern Pennsylvania, after escaping a Physical Evaluation Board in December 1954, facilitated his courtship and their marriage on September 24, 1955. Dave was born in the depot dispensary and was moved to Valley Forge’s Army Hospital. Patsy was born in Heidelberg, West Germany, under the watchful eyes of Dave’s head nurse at Valley Forge. West Germany was a favorite tour for Bob with both command and staff duties and command of the 17th Signal Battalion’s Radio Company. Mike was born in Tucson, Arizona, while Bob was in graduate school. Mark was born at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Mark was baptized by the same priest as Patsy was in Karlsruhe, West Germany. It’s a small world! It was a lot of moving, eighteen times in twenty-two years in the service, West Germany to Taiwan, and everywhere in between. Ahh. The Army life! Bob also had two tours in Vietnam.
Bob and his family settled in Grand Prairie, Texas, in June 1972. The family joined Immaculate Conception and later St. Michael’s. Bob also served on the YMCA Board of Management and helped to get the gym built. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1976. He then earned a history degree and a master’s degree in education. Bob began a second career at North Lake College as a professor, which lasted twenty-five years. He was in “Who’s Who among America’s Teachers”. Bob was President of both the 17th Signal Battalion Association and the Southwest Region of the Association of Collegiate Business Schools.
Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife Pat, parents Robert Sr. and Mary Ironside, and brother Bruce.
Bob is survived by his children Dave, Patsy, Mike, and Mark. Granddaughters Jennifer Cantu (Mario) and Sofia. Great granddaughter Anne Cantu. Great grandson Luke Ironside-Cantu. Great, great grandson Nihlus Ironside-Cantu. Niece Jackie Trawicki (Ken). Grandnephew Kenny Trawicki.
Funeral Mass for Robert will be held Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 9:30 AM at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 2910 Corn Valley Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grandprairiefh.com for the Ironside family.
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