Bobby Lincoln

Bobby C. Lincoln, 86, of Cape Girardeau passed away Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, at the Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born Oct. 16, 1927, in Dexter, Missouri, the only child of Robert B. and Carroll H. Crews Lincoln.

Bobby moved to Cape Girardeau with his parents in the summer of 1941.

After graduating from Central High School in 1945, he entered the Army Specialized Training program at the University of Wyoming at Laramie. When the program was terminated with the end of World War II, Bobby enlisted in the Army Air Force where he was trained as a cryptographer and served 18 months in the Panama Canal Zone. After discharge in 1948, he attended Southeast Missouri State University, and in 1949 went to work for the Railway Mail Service in St. Louis.

He and Elda Jean Roberts were married Oct. 9, 1950, just before recall to active duty during the Korean War. He spent the next 12 months overseas, first for a brief period in Germany, with the remainder in Rabat, Morocco, helping to provide communications support while the U.S. was negotiating to build B-29 bases in the area. He was discharged in September 1951 with the rank of staff sergeant.

When he returned stateside, he and Elda Jean moved to St. Louis where he returned to work for the Railway Mail Service. He transferred to the post office in Cape Girardeau in 1952, where he worked until retiring in 1976 as a supervisor of mail delivery and processing.

Bobby was interested in health, diet and fitness beginning in the 1960s. He exercised nearly every day, especially after retirement, where he could be seen most every day at Southeast Recreation Center.

He was gregarious, with a quick wit and an entertaining sense of humor. He enjoyed spending time with family. Affectionately known as "Papa Bob" to his grandchildren, he enjoyed spending time with them in a variety of ways -- reading, playing catch and watching them play a variety of sports.

He leaves behind his wife of 63 years; two daughters, Carol (Dr. Robert) Skowbo of Cape Girardeau and Tammie (Larry) Koenig of Jackson; a son, David (Trudy) Lincoln of Tupelo, Mississippi; two granddaughters, Kara Lincoln of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Molly Lincoln of Tupelo; two grandsons, Andrew (Kaitlin) Koenig of Cincinnati and Austin (Taylor) Koenig of Jackson.

Family and friends may gather from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Crain Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with the Rev. Chris Clifton officiating.

To leave online condolences, please visit crainsonline.com.