Robert Edwin Stanton

Robert Edwin Stanton was born in Newton, Iowa, on July 4, 1928. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather; a Christian businessman; and a faithful missionary who spent his life serving others. Bob received his undergraduate education at Grinnell College and his Master of Business Administration at Northwestern University. His MBA studies were interrupted by a two-year period of service in the army during the Korean War where he was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. He always remembered playing baseball in Fairbanks at midnight on the Fourth of July while the sun was still shining. Subsequently, he entered missionary studies at Princeton Seminary where he met his wife, Gerry. They were married in 1955, and together they entered missionary service with the Presbyterian Church in Pakistan where they served for 16 years. Bob and Gerry were happily married for 58 years until her death in 2014. After his overseas missionary work, he was a college business professor at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas for 5 years. With his financial background, he served as a financial officer for many Christian organizations, including the Presbyterian mission in Pakistan, World Vision, Literacy and Evangelism International, and Blessings International. He coordinated the building of United Christian Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. He was instrumental in establishing an endowment which was used for refurbishing and continuation of Forman Christan College in Pakistan. He facilitated building a new Blessings International office and warehouse. He retired in 2015 at the age of 86. Bob was a Sunday school teacher for several years and had a passion for helping international students. He offered hospitality and friendship to many international students. For most of his life, Bob was an active member of either Presbyterian or Methodist Churches. He was most recently a member of Asbury Church. He was a frequent bicyclist most of his life. He enjoyed exercising and was a regular outdoor walker. He chose a primarily vegetarian diet for the later years of his life. He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on April 23, 2024, at the age of 95. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucian Marcy Stanton and Helen Louise Fair Stanton and his wife, Gerdine (Gerry) DeGraff Stanton. He is survived by his children Ruth Stanton (Rick Hahnenberg), Dr. Paul Stanton (Dr. Karyl Stanton), and Carol Williams (Dr. Karl Williams); his grandchildren Julia Stanton Fallon (Patrick Fallon), Christopher Stanton, Dr. Jason Stanton (Dr. Cicily Stanton), Joel Stanton, Mark Hahnenberg, Dr. Joshua Williams (Haley Williams), and Dr. Andrew Williams; and great-grandchildren Alinea Stanton, Mina Fallon, Myles Overstreet, and Marlie Williams. His memorial service will be held at Asbury Church, 6767 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, June 8, at 10:00 am in the Chapel. The service will also be live-streamed and the link is: Graveside services will be held at the Chariton Cemetery in Chariton, Iowa, at a later date. Flowers may be sent to Asbury Church South Entrance the day before the memorial service or donations may be made in memory of Bob Stanton to support Forman Christian College, Lahore, Pakistan, at: .

Robert Edwin Stanton

July 4, 1928 - April 23, 2024