Robert Murray Randell was born August 23, 1927, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Keith and Elsie Randell. He graduated from Wyandotte High School where he earned state medals while on the swim team. He enlisted in the US Army and was stationed with the Army of Occupation in Korea. He graduated from KU with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. He was a proud Jayhawk, passing on his love of KU basketball to his family.

In 1950 he married his high school sweetheart and fellow Jayhawk, Mildred Gulnik. Bob always said he was a "lucky duck", having been married to Millie for 63 years. He worked for Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. for 41 years, beginning his career at the Topeka plant. In 1967, he transferred to Goodyear International, where he was Manager of Engineering in Sydney, Australia, for 5 years. Next he moved his family to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. There, as Chief Engineer, Bob had the privilege of building a Goodyear Tyre factory “in the middle of the jungle and teaching the local natives how to operate the machinery”. In 1975 he returned "home" to Topeka, Kansas.

His hobbies included polishing cars, especially his '56 Lincoln Premiere, and photography. He left his family with many beautiful photos of their life overseas. During retirement he enjoyed traveling to dog events with his "grand-dogs", visiting his grandchildren in Texas, and the yearly family reunions in Bella Vista, Arkansas, all the while taking photos that will be treasured forever.

He was an active member of the Topeka Kiwanis Club. He volunteered weekly for Let's Help, Inc., a local Topeka charity where he repaired broken toys for redistribution. Following a heart attack in 2002, he was forced to go to cardiac rehab. He loved the results of the exercise so much that he continued going four times a week and began taking Millie with him.

Robert is survived by his wife, Mildred Randell; three daughters, Deborah Willis and husband Mike of Kansas City, Missouri, Myra Harold of Austin, Texas, and Linda Dallas and husband Jim of Kansas City, Missouri; three grandchildren, Randell Harold of Lawrence, Kansas, Roslyn Harold and Richard Harold of Austin, Texas; his sister Elsie Marie Kuhn of St. Peters, Missouri; two nephews, three nieces, and a "cat named Boo".

He had a "Judge Judy" sense of Justice. He had an insightful sense of humor evident in his many "one-liners." He was the finest example of unconditional love, his family always came first. He celebrated life and lived every day to the fullest. He would want us to do that now.

Visitation and Funeral Service

Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 16, 2013, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4746 SW 21st Street, Topeka, Kansas. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Graveside service will be at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, November 16, 2013, at Highland Park Cemetery, 39th & State Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas.

Memorial Contributions

The family suggests memorial contributions to: Let’s Help, Inc. 200 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66603.