William Robert "Bob" Gaw

William Robert “Bob” Gaw, 86, of Moberly, died Wednesday, September 26, 2018. He was born December 7, 1931 in Bucklin, Missouri the son of Harry Cleveland and Opal Lee Walker Gaw.

Bob was the third of four sons. The family lived in Bucklin until Bob’s Dad retired from the US Post Office when Bob was still in grade school and then moved to a 440-acre farm on the Mussel Fork in Chariton County, Missouri between Keytesville and Marceline. There the boys farmed, hunted and fished and began attending school in Keytesville. When in school, Bob followed in his older brothers’ footsteps; playing basketball and becoming a member of the band where he played the clarinet.

Upon graduation from high school in 1949 (and while still 17) Bob, along with his brother Gene joined the Navy traveling by train to San Diego for training and then shipping out to Japan. When some of his group in Japan were asked if they would to go to Korea, Bob volunteered. For the remainder of the War he served on the ship, operating the landing craft transporting ammunition and soldiers to and from shore. At one point he and his two older brothers were all in the service during Korea. During this time, Bob’s father became gravely ill, and the boys were sent home. Fortunately, their Dad recovered. After returning to Korea, Bob received the news that the crew of the craft that he operated had been hit and a number of his close friends including Japanese and American Sailors who were on the craft were killed. Even recently Bob still retained the ability to speak conversational Japanese.

When Bob returned home from the service he fell for a beautiful girl four years his junior who also attended Keytesville High School. On October 3, 1954 Bob and Julia Marie Bentley were married in Keytesville, moving to Moberly shortly thereafter. In 1957 their first son Steve was born, followed by their second son, Scott, in 1959. A daughter, Lissa, was born in 1966. In 1961, Bob and Julia realized their dream to live and raise a family on a farm by moving to the 100 acres that would become their forever home. There, Bob and Julia raised horses, and enjoyed the many dogs and other animals that lived there over the years. When they were first married they purchased an American Saddlebred named Skyboy, and spent weekends trailering him around Missouri to show in five-gaited classes. They then raised another American Saddlebred stallion, crossing him with numerous mares including one that belonged to Julia, from which they raised several foals that became champions in horse shows around the country. To this day, the farm is home to a Tennessee Walker stallion, and 11 mares that Bob and Julia have cared for exclusively.

Bob was an avid hunter and one of his favorite pastimes was coon hunting. Beginning the sport when he was a child hunting with his dad, it became a lifelong passion. His favorite breed was the Redbone, and he owned many over the years. Bob and Julia were also avid horse people. They loved trail riding and spent many days over their six-decade marriage riding their horses alongside their family and friends. They were long time members of the Randolph County Saddle Club as well as the Huntsville Horse Show Committee, and they helped with many horse shows and rodeos.

Bob loved to bargain and trade. He enjoyed going to horse auctions and hound events where he would buy, trade, and sell horses, saddles and hounds. Frequently, he would bring them home and finish them out and then sell them for a profit. He seemed to enjoy making the profit, but more than that he loved the interaction with other people. Bob loved engaging with others, especially if he could make them laugh. He had a special way of introducing humor that most that knew him always seemed to remember. When there was work to be done he would rarely ask for help, preferring to take it on himself. He was an incredibly humble man, always steering the limelight away from himself, and a rock and an anchor for his family. 

Bob started the career that he would continue throughout the rest of his life at the Salisbury Press Spectator. He then became a Linotype operator for the Moberly Monitor Index for about 20 years. Bob always treated people as equals no matter their lot in life. For many years he managed the print shop at the Moberly State Prison, and the inmates he connected with there continued their relationships with him throughout both his tenure and retirement. He finished his career first as a foreman and then as manager of the print shop at Moberly State Prison. For a number of years he also ran a small print shop at the farm.

Bob and Julia have been members of Trinity Methodist in Moberly where they have regularly attended for a number of years. Bob was a former member of the Moberly Jaycees, Democratic Central Committee, Moberly Coonhunters’ Club, and the Randolph County Saddle Club.

Bob is survived by Julia, his wife of 63 years, children; Robert Steven “Steve” Gaw and wife Fannie of Holts Summit, Missouri; David Scott “Scott” Gaw of Palm Springs, California, Melissa Suzette “Lissa” Orscheln and husband Don “Chick” of Columbia, Missouri; brother, Harry Edwin Gaw of Keytesville, Missouri; grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Orscheln, William Connor Orscheln, Skylar Kathleen Gaw, Braden Scott Orscheln, and Parker Julian Orscheln, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers; Gene and John David “JD” Gaw.

Bob was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, printer, hunter, dog lover, horseman, veteran of the Korean War, and friend dedicated to making others laugh and feel better about life.

Memorial Contributions to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Trinity United Methodist Church would be appreciated.

 Services honoring and celebrating Bob’s life were held at the Cater Funeral Home Chapel; Committal prayers and burial followed in the Oakland Cemetery.