Robert Raymond "Bob" Malaby

1936 - 2015

Robert Raymond "Bob" Malaby, 78, died at 1:20 AM on Sunday, January 25, 2015 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Private memorial services will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements were directed by the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory.
Memorials have been established and those who wish to make a contribution in memory of Bob may do so to: Family Healthcare Clinic 1820 W. Hensley Blvd. Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74003 or Tulsa Zoo Friends 6421 E. 36th St. N. Tulsa, Oklahoma 74115.
Bob Malaby, our Dad, was born July 3, 1936 in Neosho, Missouri - His father Ray was a construction worker. His mother Leta was a housewife. Grandpa Ray was a Republican; Grandma Leta was a Democrat. They canceled each other's votes for 50 years but never got tired of arguing about politics.
Dad grew up in Kansas City - Given the tales we heard about his formative years and the stunts he pulled with his friends, it remains a wonder that he survived into adulthood.
Dad graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1954 – soon after graduation he enlisted in the Marine Corps. Apparently Dad had been working on construction jobs and told Grandpa Ray he enlisted because he was tired of being told what to do.
Dad served honorably in the Marines as a Radio Technician in the 8th Tank Batallion, eventually rising to the rank of Sergeant. After leaving the military, he used the GI bill to enroll at Pittsburgh State University, graduating in May 1960, with dual degrees in Math and Physics.
Dad was hired by Phillips Petroleum in July 1960 as one of their first computer programmers – his technical and organizational skills served him well as a programmer and later as an IT manager. He eventually rose to the rank of Operations Manager, a job he enjoyed immensely. Dad remained at Phillips for 25 years.
Dad loved to golf and was the most comedic golfer I ever saw. Even though he loved to play he would often become outraged by his lack of talent. Over the course of hundreds of rounds, I saw him hit a ball into a swimming pool, into an open clubhouse window, between his own legs, and into the golf carts of people playing on holes that were nowhere near where we were supposed to be golfing. He hit a ball into a trashcan. He hit a ball into his own jacket. Once he hit the same tree on three consecutive shots and wound up further away from the hole each time.
When his game really went south he would stop playing, hold up the club that had betrayed him, usually his driver, and tell me he was going to go back to town and give the club to the first child he saw. Then he would describe in exacting detail the child's future, prophesying that the child would undoubtedly grow up to a life of misery and woe solely because of the cursed golf club he had received from my Dad. And then inevitably he would get tickled with himself and start laughing and the process would begin all over again. This might happen three times a round.
Dad was a man of deep emotion and good intent who struggled for many years with social interactions. He cared deeply about the people he loved but was renowned in our family for his lack of conversational skills. Numbers were a source of great comfort to him, so we all grew used to hearing him recount his travels, golf games, and expenditures in terms of miles, shots and dollars.
He loved activities with friends and family gatherings but had a hard time initiating them. He loved travel, but only with companions. He was happiest in the presence of people he cared about.
He was proud of his friendships his whole life and often told stories of his high school days in Kansas City and of the adventures of his work and golfing buddies in Bartlesville.
Dad was a completely honest man.
Colorado was a magical place for him, and he never lost his desire to return there. We will be scattering his ashes in the Rockies this summer.
Dad is survived by a large number of family and friends. We love him dearly.
Survivors include; two sons Michael Robert Malaby and his wife Michelle of Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Mark Raymond Malaby and his wife Gail of McPherson, Kansas; one sister Christine June Rose of Carrollton, Texas; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Friends who wish may sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.stumpff.org.