Robert “Bob” O. Harper
Bob was born in St. Louis, Missouri on August 30, 1944 and passed away at the age of 78, on January 7, 2023.
Dear son of the late Ora Harper and Helen (Berns) Harper; beloved brother of Sister Robert Ann Harper C.P.P.S.; devoted husband of Madonna (Maloney) Harper; loving father of Christa (Brent) Batliner, Melissa (Bill) Murphy, Robert Harper and Tim (Gina) Harper; dearest grandfather of Stephen (Katie), Ryan (Kaitlyn), Katie, Brendon, Joey, Emily, Ava, Drew and Daren and great grandfather to Louis and Will. He was also a friend to many and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Bob loved baseball and after high school was drafted by the Chicago White Socks organization where he played for 2 years. He was a loyal employee of the St. Louis Blues and Ralston Purina.
A memorial gathering will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Monday, January 16, 2023 at The Immaculate Conception of Dardenne Catholic Church, 7701 Town Square Ave, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368, with a memorial mass and inurnment to follow at 10:00 AM. There will also a luncheon held in the parish hall immediately following.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the National MS Society @ nationalmssociety.org or Our Ladies Inn @ ourladysinn.org
You are missed my friend … parties in country village Blues games .. long walks in the park I could always see you jogging with your very distinctive walk rest in peace
Bob, how is it that you look so good at 78 and I don’t. Probably all that jogging! As I read your memorial, I thought of all the blessings your life had — a wonderful wife and children and all those grandchildren and even two “greats”. My prayer is that the next phase of your journey will bring you contentment and joy and peace. God bless you and yours.
There isn’t enough space here to capture the impact Bob had on my life and those of us lucky enough to have called him friend. He made us laugh, he made us think, and he made me want to be a better person. He truly loved his amazing family and his friends and if I could share some of the stories he told me following a rigorous game of tennis or racquetball, well…you’d realize what I mean. He was the toughest and most honest competitor I ever faced on the courts, he would chase down every ball, no matter how improbable it was that he’d reach it, and he reached an amazing number of them. I think he approached life that way. Everyone should be lucky enough to have had a a friend like Bob….he was a remarkable man…and friend. Rest in peace Bob and keep your game sharp, we’ll pick up where we left off….someday. And I know you’ll remind me, it will be my turn to bring the tennis balls.