C. Robert “Bob” Harshbarger, age 85, passed away peacefully at home at 3:22 AM Monday, June 6, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. He had been previously diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on May 17, 2011. He was born January 26, 1926 in Elkins, the youngest child of the late Harry Edward Harshbarger and the late Elizabeth Ann Blackwood Harshbarger. On April 25, 1951 at the First Baptist Church in Elkins with the late Rev. H.L. Koontz officiating, he married Betty J. Bodkin Harshbarger who survives. They had celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to his death. He is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth “Betsy” Katell, Myrtle Beach, SC and Joyce Hutton of Elkins. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Leah Ann Katell, Erin Beth Katell, Zachary R. (Brenda) Hutton and Jessica Lynn Hutton and several nieces and nephews. He is the last surviving member of his immediate family, being predeceased by brothers, Rankin, Stuart, June and Bill and sisters, Virginia, Polly, Mary Nan and two infant girls. Bob attended Randolph County Schools, graduating from Elkins High School with the class of 1944. His education was interrupted for several years during World War II when he served in the United States Navy stationed aboard the USS Brooklyn in the Mediterranean; after his discharge, he attended Milwaukee School of Engineering and became associated in the family business of Harshbarger Plumbing and Heating in Elkins and later he was employed by the West Virginia Department of Transportation, retiring in August 1988.
During his lifetime, Bob was a member of the following organizations; H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion, Tygart Valley Post 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars, BPOE Lodge 1135, Elkins Lodge No. 108 AF&AM, Chapter 35 Royal Arch Masons, Pilgrim Commandery No. 21,Knights of Templar, Tygart Valley Shrine Club and Osiris Shrine of Wheeling. He was also a member of the Randolph County Senior Center and served on the Board of Directors of Memorial General Hospital and the Randolph County Airport Authority. Bob was friendly and outgoing and never met a stranger; he loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing with friends, his garden, yard work and all sports. He will be remembered as a great fan of the West Virginia University Mountaineers, frequently attending home games or cheering them on when watching TV or listening to the radio. As a young boy, Bob attended the First Baptist Church of Elkins with his family and continued worshipping there during his lifetime.
Friends may call at the Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins on Friday, June 10, 2011 from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. A funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Parli at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in the American Legion’s Little Arlington Cemetery where presentation of the American Flag will be made by members of H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorial contributions to Mountain Hospice, Inc., 1600 Crim Avenue, Belington, WV 26250 in memory of Bob. The Tomblyn Funeral Home of Elkins is in charge of the arrangements for C. Robert “Bob” Harshbarger.
