Robert E. Nisbet

DECATUR -- Robert E. Nisbet, 83, of Decatur passed away Thursday evening (Sept. 18, 2003) in his home.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Sunday in First Presbyterian Church. In accordance with his wishes, his body was donated to the Anatomical Gift Association. Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials to First Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Nisbet was born Aug. 8, 1920, in Palestine, Texas, to the late Walker and Evelyn Eudaly Nisbet. He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder and Sunday school teacher for many years. In 2002, he was honored to receive the Lamp Award for Excellence in Teaching by the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois.

Mr. Nisbet graduated from Texas A&M in 1940. He enlisted in the Army Reserves, serving in World War II. Upon retirement from the military, he had earned the rank of lieutenant colonel. He worked as a chemical engineer for A.E. Staley Mfg. Co. for 25 years. While employed by Staley's, he was sent to Lisbon, Portugal, to supervise the construction of a soybean plant. After retirement, he did consulting work in Indianapolis, Ind. He was an active member of the American Red Cross and at one time chairman of the Disaster Committee. He married Nancy Lou Webb on Dec. 27, 1947, in San Angelo, Texas.

Surviving are his wife of 55 years; daughter, Patricia Nisbet Klingenberg and husband Charles Ganelin of Oxford, Ohio; son, Allen Nisbet and wife Jane of New Orleans, La.; grandchild, Alix Robin Klingenberg.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Robin Nisbet; and sister, Patricia Frasier.