Robert E. Lydiard

Robert Edward Lydiard of Cascade, 93, an Army veteran, died of natural causes Saturday, Aug. 11, at an assisted living home in Great Falls.

A celebration of Robert Lydiard's life is 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2900 9th Ave. South in Great Falls.

Robert passed away surrounded by a son and daughter. Reverend Jim Petersen will officiate at the service.

Born April 2, 1919, in Boston, Mass., Robert was the fourth of Edward and Florence Lydiard's five children. Growing up in the Boston area, his special interests included hockey and amateur radio. The acquisition of his first amateur radio license in his teenage years was the forerunner of ham radio becoming an integral part of his life.

He graduated from Boston English High School and attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology until he joined the United States Army in 1942. Stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco, he was an instructor of Morse code. During that time period, he met Frances Neva Barber of Great Falls, who was studying harp with the principal harpist of the San Francisco Symphony. They married on July 27, 1942.

Three weeks later he travelled to Alaska on a submarine to serve in the United States Army Signal Corps, decoding messages during World War II. Captain Lydiard completed active duty in Fort Monmouth, N.J. after the conclusion of the war but served in the Army Reserve until 1953. Upon completion of active duty, Mr. Lydiard moved back to San Francisco and worked for Eastman Kodak Company. He nurtured his passion for photography and became a keen and talented photographer.

In 1946, Bob and Neva moved to Great Falls where Bob joined his father-in-law, Roy J. Barber's business. He assumed the position of store manager at Barbers, Inc., which in the 1950s and 1960s was the largest home department store in the state. It was housed in the Barber-Lydiard building, now known as 600 Central Plaza. During those years, Bob was an active member of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, Masonic Temple, and Shriners. He was instrumental in reinstating the Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club (GFAARC), serving as club president in 1978. One of his specialties was contacting people around the world primarily by Morse code. This communication included well over a hundred countries.

The family shared a love of the outdoors and spent time in Lincoln starting when the children were young. During his retirement years and in conjunction with his property near Lincoln, Bob became a member of the Montana Tree Farm System and completed certification as a tree farmer. He also joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, served as Commander of the Great Falls Flotilla, and taught courses in boating safety. In 1977, he and Neva moved from Great Falls to the home Bob built on the Missouri River southwest of Cascade. There he served as a notary public for many years.

Bob enjoyed travelling, taking elder hostel trips with a buddy from World War II, and visiting Hawaii. He loved music, history, and was an avid reader. From these he became interested in genealogy and traced Neva's family to the American Revolution and his family linage to the Mayflower. He was a long-standing member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Family and friends were of the utmost importance to "Captain Bob," a nickname from his great grandson. He was a beloved father and is survived by four children: Jeffrey (Cathy) Lydiard of San Diego, Linda Lydiard of Great Falls, Ronald Lydiard of Taipei, Taiwan, and Marcia Lydiard of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. His three grandchildren are Elizabeth Lydiard of San Diego, Samantha (John) Willis of Sandpoint, Idaho, and Anne (Jason) Galvas, of Vancouver, Wash. Anne and Jason's children are Robert's great grandchildren, Justin and Alexa, also of Vancouver, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Neva Barber Lydiard, and four siblings.

Memorials are suggested to the First Congregational United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, 2900 9th Ave. S, Great Falls, MT 59405.

Condolences may be posted online at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.