Robert Paul Bixby

Robert Paul Bixby was born January 22, 1921, to Florence Iva (Vernon) Bixby and Charles Ellis
(Hatch-birthname) Bixby (adoption name) on a farm near Oberlin, Kansas. After several
disastrous farming years, the family moved to Arcola and Carpenter where Charles found work
on the railroad and Paul started school. They then moved to an established homestead claim
15 miles north of Cheyenne in the Little Bear neighborhood where Paul walked to the Goggin
School about a mile away and later traveled to Cheyenne every day to attend high school
where he graduated in 1938. He went on to receive training as an electrician and soon enlisted
in the U.S. Army where he served with the 564th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion. He received
a Certificate of Merit from the European Theater of Operations for his unselfish devotion to duty.
After returning to Cheyenne following the war, Paul spent many years working as an electrician.
He was the first Cheyenne member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and
just recently received his 85-year pin from that union. He always enjoyed traveling and
camping in his various motorhomes, and in 1977 married fellow adventurer, Eleanor Wilcox
Wilson. They spent many eventful years together seeing the country and enjoying the
companionship of members of various camping groups. After Eleanor's death in 2009, Paul
continued to live in Apache Junction, Arizona, year-round while still enjoying traveling when
possible. Several years ago Paul became a resident of the Idaho State Veterans Home in
Lewiston, Idaho. Last January he celebrated his 101st birthday and was the oldest WWII
veteran at that facility. He died on September 10th. He was preceded in death by his two
brothers, Dale and Bill, and his wife. He is survived by his sister Jo Nickles, numerous nieces
and nephews, and the caring, supportive family of his wife, especially Colleen and Megan
Wilson. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, September 20, at 1:00, at Cheyenne Memorial
Gardens.