Robert “Bob” George Kiker was born in Hopkins County, Texas on May 4, 1915. He passed from this life on June 14, 2017. Mr. Kiker was raised on a farm in Childress County, Texas, moving there when he was two years old. He graduated from Childress High School in 1932 and then attended West Texas State Teachers College, now known as West Texas A&M. He married his one true love, Loretta Alverson on May 18, 1934. Loretta passed away on May 28, 2000. They had three children, the first child being still born, and two sons, Bob, who passed in 2015, and Tom who resides in Lancaster, Texas.
They had six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and eleven great-great grandchildren and are preceded in death by one grandchild and two great grandchildren.
Mr. Kiker worked in a grocery store during the depression era but in 1941 he went to work for the Santé-Fe Railroad in Amarillo, Texas as a fireman and then promoted to engineer. He enjoyed the work but would be required to be away from his wife and family for long periods of time. He quit the railroad where he was raised and farmed during the drought years of the 1950s until he went broke. During that 11-year period, he also served as president of the Childress County Farm Bureau and was on the schoolboard of the Rivercamp school until it consolidated with the Childress school district.
He then ran for trustee of Childress ISD, and was elected and served for four years. He was county commissioner of his precinct until he moved away from Childress, Texas.
Mr. Kiker then entered into the life insurance business and made that his career until he retired in 1981 with his final position being President of First United Life Insurance Company in Dallas, Texas.
He was an active member of St. Paul Methodist Church having served on most of the committees, and was a member of the official board and served as 1 year as chairman of the board. He taught an adult couples Sunday class in Childress, Sherman, and at St. Paul. He also served as chairman of the board for Key Memorial Methodist Church.
Robert was a 32nd degree mason, a member of the York and Scottish Rite, Shrine, and Norman Reed Chapter 1010 order of the Eastern Star. He was a past master of the Midland Lodge #623 having served as Worshipful Master in 1991-1992 and was secretary of the lodge for more than 20 years.
He moved to Flower Mound, Texas to live with Kerry and Martha Kiker for the last eight years and was a member of Seniors in Motion in Flower Mound. He enjoyed spending time with many of his grands, great-grands and great-great grandchildren until his death
Robert had a great spirit and was always quick with a smile, solid handshake or hug and warm greeting for anyone. He was always positive and had a great attitude about life and never had a disparaging word about any person or situation which made him very endearing to everyone that knew him.
The viewing will be held at Ellis Funeral Home Friday June 16, 2017 from 5-8PM and services will be conducted at St. Paul’s Methodist Church at 2 pm at 4501 Thomason Dr, Midland, Texas 79703 followed by a small service at Resthaven Memorial Park.
Instead of flowers it is requested donations be made to Norman Reed Chapter#1010 Order of the Eastern Star, PO Box 80483, Midland, TX 79708.
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