Robert "Ponch" Van Camp

Robert “Ponch” Van Camp was born on May 1st 1934 in Kansas City, MO. Robert grew up on a farm and when he reached the right age, he enlisted into the Army where he met the love of his life, Airman First Class Marjorie. She was in the Air Force and they were set up on a blind date. After some courting and sweet talking he convinced Marjorie to be his wife. Marjorie had signed on for another stent, where she was sent to Germany for a while. Distance was no match for their love and after she received a proposal letter and ring in the mail, she knew she couldn’t say no. They got married when she got back to the states and had two wonderful children.

Robert worked as a Captain on the Kansas City, MO Fire Department where he saved several lives after running into burning buildings, taught first aid and CPR, and delivered babies from women who went to the fire department when in labor. For several years he was a Scout Master, Vice President of the Firefighters Union Local 42 and after 25 years on the Department, he retired and move to Theodosia, MO, where he and his family lived on a farm. There he accomplished many things. In Ozark County he started the volunteer fire department where he became Chief, headed fundraisers for the needy, was man of the year, in MO he was the first person to start recycling and create the clean water act for rivers and creeks, ran for county commissioner and in his free time hauled cattle and hay for the farmers that couldn’t afford it. He was a people person and pleaser.

He was an amazing man who was a father figure to a lot, knew no stranger, always had a smile on his face, laughed a lot, and joked around. He loved life.