Robert Munsell Sweeney

Robert "Bob" Munsell Sweeney, 102, a longtime businessman of Salisbury, MO, died Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at Cedarhurst Senior Living of Columbia, MO. Bob was born January 31, 1923 in Kansas City, MO, the son of Robert Calvin and Tressa (Munsell) Sweeney.
Bob was a graduate of Salisbury High School, Class of 1941. He had an avid interest in flying and learned to fly right out of high school. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was called to duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, in February 1943. He received flight training and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1944 and promoted to 1st Lieutenant while in Europe. Bob completed 61 combat missions in a P-47 Thunderbolt fighter bomber in Italy during World War II. He was in the 85th Fighter squadron of the 79th Fighter group. He was awarded three Air Medals, the Presidential Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal, and European-African-Middle Eastern Medal.
Bob returned home in March of 1946, married Doris Olsen and obtained a degree in Business Administration at the University of Missouri. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. They had a daughter Sheryl Ann. Doris died in 1967. Bob married Norma Gebhardt of Brunswick in 1970 and she preceded him in death in 2019.
Bob was the oldest of two sons. Bob and his brother Bill Sweeney became officers in the family business. W.R. Sweeney MFR, Inc, after Bob returned from the war, and operated it for 55 years.
Since his great great grandparents Calvin and Barbara Sweeney were charter members of the Salisbury First Christian Church, Bob has served in different positions of the church like his family members. He was also a member of the Ingram Trust Fund committee; served several terms on the Dulany Library Board; the Salisbury City Cemetery Board for 35 years; has been president of the Salisbury Alumni Association; the Salisbury Zoning board, and member of the Chariton County Historical Society and served on its board.
Bob is survived by his daughter Sherry (Jack) Schreiber of St. Louis, MO, grandson John Jr. (Chelsea) Schreiber, great grandchildren Jackson and Juno, step-son Jaime Gebhardt, nephew Bill Sweeney, Jr., and sister-in-law Mardella Sweeney. He was preceded in death by his parents, wives, a grandson Andrew Schreiber in 2015, brother William Sweeney, niece Carole Bultman, and sister-in-law Doris Mae.
Visitation is 10-11:00 a.m. with services following at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Salisbury, with burial in Salisbury City Cemetery with Military Honors. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church or the Chariton County Historical Society & Museum.