Mr. Robert G. Randolph, 79, of Henderson, Illinois formerly of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was born January 28, 1940 in Cape Girardeau the son of Otis H. and Olga L. Hellwege Randolph.
Robert is survived by his children, Robert and Melissa; and his niece, Angela (Mike) Harroun of Galesburg. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Don Michael Randolph.
Robert was a long time resident of Oquawka, Illinois. He graduated from Cape Central High in 1958. He participated in track and was a letter man, in 1958, and won a bronze medal in the Big Eight (high school). Robert enjoyed fishing, golf, archery, and joined Boot Heel Bow Hunters, participating in many tournaments thru out Missouri and Illinois.
Robert joined the Army in 1959, he completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and AIT at Ft. Benning, Georgia he then transferred to Ft. Ord California Engineers CDEC (combat development experimentation command), attached to Hunter Leggit, (tank experiment warfare). In 1959, was PCS’d to Inchon Korea, working a water purification site, with 137 Engineers detached. He was later transferred to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia with Eng.’s assisting with training of classroom officers. He was honorable discharged in 1962.
In 1975, he took a job in Biloxi, Mississippi with DoD, (Department of Defense) U.S. Air Force, updating dial central offices. He traveled extensively thru out the U.S. and Alaska. In 1977, he joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves in Biloxi (Keesler Air Force Base) to gain further knowledge of working with the Air Force and civil service. His duties were as a combat communications specialist. Robert was to furnish command and control land line communications. He traveled worldwide assisting command phone systems. In 1980, he transferred to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. His jobs were plenty, installing key systems (business office phones), site surveys, assisting command with communications during field exercises, over seen supplies on hand to complete all jobs, trained airman installation procedures. Robert attained supervisor of outside plant. His deployments consisted of, UK, Germany, Antigua helping set up radio communications for Hurricane Hunters Weather Squadron. He provided phones for command centers in U.S. and Europe as combat communications for fighter squadron, and medical MASH units. Robert attained the rank of Tech. Sgt. (E6). In 1997, Robert was medically retired after twenty six years of services.
Memorial Services are scheduled for 6:00 pm Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services with Chaplain Jordan Knight officiating. Burial will be held November 23, 2019 at 11:00 am in Cape Count Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be to the Defenders of Freedom Veterans Home. Online condolences may be made at www.-h-p-w.com
