Bobby Wayne Lancaster

Bobby Wayne Lancaster, son of James Allison and Sallie Mae (Washburn) Lancaster, was born, the youngest of thirteen brothers and sisters, at home on March 22, 1930, in Collingsworth County, Texas. He passed away on Friday, April 20, 2012, in Cox Medical Center South, in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-two years, and twenty-eight days.
He attended elementary and high school in Quail, Texas, and during those years, he met the cutest blue-eyed girl, who later became his wife and the love of his life.
Bob and Betty Jean Souder were married one day after her eighteenth birthday, because her parents wouldn't allow her to marry until she was eighteen. On September 16, 1950, they stood on the front porch of Betty's brother's home, J. L. Souder, and made their lifelong vows to each other. Reverend Elvis Pitts, Betty's brother-in-law, officiated. Bob and Betty made a commitment that day that would stand the test of time, and learned to overcome many trials and shared a wonderful love for over sixty years.
Bob and Betty were blessed with three children, Ron, Diane and Joel. When the kids were young they moved to Perryton, Texas, and there they met their next door neighbors, Dub and Shirley Neuroth. The friendship these two families share has endured almost half a century and a move from Texas to Missouri.
In 1967, Bob bought a farm in Missouri and moved his family to the community of Owens, just north of Norwood. Bob, Betty and the kids worked hard long days to clear the rough and rocky Missouri land and developed it into a nice farm. Bob had a love for horses and he had a special gift at training them. His most special horse was a Palomino Fox Trotter named Fancy, and he kept her as long as his health permitted. Bob also enjoyed going on trail rides with his friends Ferris Crawford, J.D. Mitchell, and Gordon Bergholz.



Bob would tell you as much as he loved his Betty and his children, his first and foremost love was his Savior, Jesus Christ. Bob was saved as a teenager at Buck Creek Baptist Church in Collingsworth County, Texas. He made a commitment to Christ that day and he kept it. He served as a deacon at the Key Heights Baptist Church in Perryton, Texas until he moved to Missouri in 1967. He then served as a deacon of the First Baptist Church of Mountain Grove for the next forty years.
While living in Texas, Bob worked for Morton Foods and Meads Fine Bread. In 1985, he retired from Frito Lay after twenty years of service. He loved his job which always included visiting over a cup of coffee at the local restaurants while making his deliveries. His outgoing personality and enjoyment of a good joke made him a million friends that will not forget him. In his life, there were no strangers, just friends he hadn't met yet.
After his retirement, Bob and Betty enjoyed traveling in Europe and seeing America in their travel trailer. They loved spending summers at Treasure Lake in Branson and always took turns taking the grandchildren, two at a time. (Bob said he and Betty didn't want to be outnumbered by them.)
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, James Allison and Sallie Mae Lancaster; eleven brothers and sisters, Lamar, Jack, Clyde, J.C., Buck, Junior, Toby, Peggy, Ada, Lila, and Josie Bell; and a son-in-law, Chuck Adams.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of sixty-one years, Betty, of the home; their three children, Ronald Lancaster, and his wife, Wilma, of Mansfield, Missouri, Diane Adams, of Marshfield, Missouri, and Joel Lancaster, and his wife, Tonya, of Norwood, Missouri; six grandchildren, Nicki Crosswhite, of Mansfield, Ryan Adams, of St Louis, Erin Adams, of Springfield, Clinton Lancaster, and his wife, Emily, of Norwood, Dulci Lancaster, of Springfield, and Whitley Lancaster, of Springfield; three step-grandsons, Matthew Shannon, and his wife, Christina, of Lebanon, Nathan Shannon and Joshua Shannon, of Mountain Grove; two step- granddaughters, Brooke Dennis, of Mansfield and Michelle Gallion, of Strafford; five great-grandchildren, Alissa, Tosha, Logan, Cooper and Kai; and one sister, Louella Hartman, and her husband, Clifton, of Wellington, Texas.

Bob was a man of God, a man of Honor, a man of Commitment, and a man of Family. His love for his family has always been a constant in their lives. He was the firm foundation their lives were built on. His family has no doubt where Bob is, and that he has entered into his heavenly home. They know he will be waiting to welcome each one of them, just inside the gate, when their time in this life is done.

Funeral Service:
Wednesday

Visitation:
Tuesday

Memorial Contributions:
The Baptist Home in Ozark