GREENSBORO — Robert Yow (CWO3, Ret.), 82, a long-time resident of Greensboro, died Wednesday, January 20, 2010.
He grew up in Greensboro and joined the United States Army in 1944 when he was 17. He served in a tank battalion in General Patton's army, going into northern Europe in the closing days of the Second World War. When peace was declared, he joined to the United States military police, assigned to keep order among the German people in the chaos after the war. Soon fluent in German, he became an unofficial ambassador, making friends with people everywhere, often lifelong friendships. He served in the United States Constabulary patrolling the border between East and West Germany from 1947 to 1952.
He was sent to fight in the Korean conflict in 1952 and was seriously wounded. When his wounds healed, he rejoined his unit in Korea. When the Korean War ended in 1953, he returned to West Germany to marry Irmgard Harksel. He then received new orders to report to Fort Bliss, Texas where he pursued advanced training in radio and then in missile technology. While in Texas, his two sons, Michael and Thomas, were born. During those years, he went to his army job during the day and attended New Mexico State University at night, completing his Bachelor of Science degree.
Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, Bob's next assignment took him to Barnstorf, West Germany in 1965, where he was in command of a NATO tactical missile unit. He obtained permission from NATO to start a school for American children of United States servicemen in the area and remained actively involved in the school during his stay there. While in Barnstorf, Robert was inducted into the Schutzenverein, an honor for any local citizen made more special for Robert as the only American to receive this recognition. He also was given a key to the city for his efforts in maintaining good relationships between U.S. forces and local government. He retired from the army in 1969 after a stellar 25 year career. He was heavily decorated and received many special commendations during his time in service. Among medals awarded him are two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for valor.
Returning home to Greensboro, he entered a new career as a field engineer with Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). He married Janice Pugh Dykes in 1982. Bob and Jan enjoyed a long and happy marriage. Together they blended two families and they kept family at the center of their lives. Bob and Jan loved to travel and together visited all 50 states and seven different countries in Europe. They enjoyed three long cruises and visited several countries in Central America and the Caribbean leaving them with special and irreplaceable memories. Together they were very active in church activities and Jan was by Bob's side in their involvement in several organizations for retired service personnel.
Bob was active in community projects including the Guilford County Preservation Society. As a deliverer for Mobile Meals, he saved a man's life when he entered a home and found the man choking. Bob was also very proud of the years he spent as the asst. scout master of Boy Scout Troop 117 here in Greensboro where he had a positive influence on the lives of many young men.
As a child, he read all the books in his house and remained a voracious reader all his life. In retirement, he participated in reading to children in the primary grades at his daughter Karen's school. Whenever he met a child he had read to, he would get a hug and read the first line of their favorite book, What Do You Say, Dear? Bob had a strong interest in his family genealogy and was well known by family and friends as a man who was often building or tinkering with something quite skillfully. He was a member of Trinity Covenant Church.
He is survived by his wife, Janice, a daughter, Karen, two sons and daughter -in-laws, Michael and Sarah, of Greensboro, and Thomas and Renee, of High Point, a stepdaughter Cindy Yow of Greensboro, a stepson Eddie Dykes and wife Julie of Greensboro, and a sister, Valerie Yow, of Chapel Hill, as well as nine grandchildren Steven, Brian, Elizabeth, Caleb, Carsyn, Curtis, Nick, Zack and Ferrari and a great-grandchild, Emma.
Published in News Record on January 22, 2010
He grew up in Greensboro and joined the United States Army in 1944 when he was 17. He served in a tank battalion in General Patton's army, going into northern Europe in the closing days of the Second World War. When peace was declared, he joined to the United States military police, assigned to keep order among the German people in the chaos after the war. Soon fluent in German, he became an unofficial ambassador, making friends with people everywhere, often lifelong friendships. He served in the United States Constabulary patrolling the border between East and West Germany from 1947 to 1952.
He was sent to fight in the Korean conflict in 1952 and was seriously wounded. When his wounds healed, he rejoined his unit in Korea. When the Korean War ended in 1953, he returned to West Germany to marry Irmgard Harksel. He then received new orders to report to Fort Bliss, Texas where he pursued advanced training in radio and then in missile technology. While in Texas, his two sons, Michael and Thomas, were born. During those years, he went to his army job during the day and attended New Mexico State University at night, completing his Bachelor of Science degree.
Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, Bob's next assignment took him to Barnstorf, West Germany in 1965, where he was in command of a NATO tactical missile unit. He obtained permission from NATO to start a school for American children of United States servicemen in the area and remained actively involved in the school during his stay there. While in Barnstorf, Robert was inducted into the Schutzenverein, an honor for any local citizen made more special for Robert as the only American to receive this recognition. He also was given a key to the city for his efforts in maintaining good relationships between U.S. forces and local government. He retired from the army in 1969 after a stellar 25 year career. He was heavily decorated and received many special commendations during his time in service. Among medals awarded him are two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for valor.
Returning home to Greensboro, he entered a new career as a field engineer with Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). He married Janice Pugh Dykes in 1982. Bob and Jan enjoyed a long and happy marriage. Together they blended two families and they kept family at the center of their lives. Bob and Jan loved to travel and together visited all 50 states and seven different countries in Europe. They enjoyed three long cruises and visited several countries in Central America and the Caribbean leaving them with special and irreplaceable memories. Together they were very active in church activities and Jan was by Bob's side in their involvement in several organizations for retired service personnel.
Bob was active in community projects including the Guilford County Preservation Society. As a deliverer for Mobile Meals, he saved a man's life when he entered a home and found the man choking. Bob was also very proud of the years he spent as the asst. scout master of Boy Scout Troop 117 here in Greensboro where he had a positive influence on the lives of many young men.
As a child, he read all the books in his house and remained a voracious reader all his life. In retirement, he participated in reading to children in the primary grades at his daughter Karen's school. Whenever he met a child he had read to, he would get a hug and read the first line of their favorite book, What Do You Say, Dear? Bob had a strong interest in his family genealogy and was well known by family and friends as a man who was often building or tinkering with something quite skillfully. He was a member of Trinity Covenant Church.
He is survived by his wife, Janice, a daughter, Karen, two sons and daughter -in-laws, Michael and Sarah, of Greensboro, and Thomas and Renee, of High Point, a stepdaughter Cindy Yow of Greensboro, a stepson Eddie Dykes and wife Julie of Greensboro, and a sister, Valerie Yow, of Chapel Hill, as well as nine grandchildren Steven, Brian, Elizabeth, Caleb, Carsyn, Curtis, Nick, Zack and Ferrari and a great-grandchild, Emma.
Published in News Record on January 22, 2010
GREENSBORO — Robert Yow (CWO3, Ret.), 82, a long-time resident of Greensboro, died Wednesday, January 20, 2010.
He grew up in Greensboro and joined the United States Army in 1944 when he was 17. He served in a tank battalion in General Patton's army, going into northern Europe in the closing days of the Second World War. When peace was declared, he joined to the United States military police, assigned to keep order among the German people in the chaos after the war. Soon fluent in German, he became an unofficial ambassador, making friends with people everywhere, often lifelong friendships. He served in the United States Constabulary patrolling the border between East and West Germany from 1947 to 1952.
He was sent to fight in the Korean conflict in 1952 and was seriously wounded. When his wounds healed, he rejoined his unit in Korea. When the Korean War ended in 1953, he returned to West Germany to marry Irmgard Harksel. He then received new orders to report to Fort Bliss, Texas where he pursued advanced training in radio and then in missile technology. While in Texas, his two sons, Michael and Thomas, were born. During those years, he went to his army job during the day and attended New Mexico State University at night, completing his Bachelor of Science degree.
Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, Bob's next assignment took him to Barnstorf, West Germany in 1965, where he was in command of a NATO tactical missile unit. He obtained permission from NATO to start a school for American children of United States servicemen in the area and remained actively involved in the school during his stay there. While in Barnstorf, Robert was inducted into the Schutzenverein, an honor for any local citizen made more special for Robert as the only American to receive this recognition. He also was given a key to the city for his efforts in maintaining good relationships between U.S. forces and local government. He retired from the army in 1969 after a stellar 25 year career. He was heavily decorated and received many special commendations during his time in service. Among medals awarded him are two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for valor.
Returning home to Greensboro, he entered a new career as a field engineer with Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). He married Janice Pugh Dykes in 1982. Bob and Jan enjoyed a long and happy marriage. Together they blended two families and they kept family at the center of their lives. Bob and Jan loved to travel and together visited all 50 states and seven different countries in Europe. They enjoyed three long cruises and visited several countries in Central America and the Caribbean leaving them with special and irreplaceable memories. Together they were very active in church activities and Jan was by Bob's side in their involvement in several organizations for retired service personnel.
Bob was active in community projects including the Guilford County Preservation Society. As a deliverer for Mobile Meals, he saved a man's life when he entered a home and found the man choking. Bob was also very proud of the years he spent as the asst. scout master of Boy Scout Troop 117 here in Greensboro where he had a positive influence on the lives of many young men.
As a child, he read all the books in his house and remained a voracious reader all his life. In retirement, he participated in reading to children in the primary grades at his daughter Karen's school. Whenever he met a child he had read to, he would get a hug and read the first line of their favorite book, What Do You Say, Dear? Bob had a strong interest in his family genealogy and was well known by family and friends as a man who was often building or tinkering with something quite skillfully. He was a member of Trinity Covenant Church.
He is survived by his wife, Janice, a daughter, Karen, two sons and daughter -in-laws, Michael and Sarah, of Greensboro, and Thomas and Renee, of High Point, a stepdaughter Cindy Yow of Greensboro, a stepson Eddie Dykes and wife Julie of Greensboro, and a sister, Valerie Yow, of Chapel Hill, as well as nine grandchildren Steven, Brian, Elizabeth, Caleb, Carsyn, Curtis, Nick, Zack and Ferrari and a great-grandchild, Emma.
Published in News Record on January 22, 2010
He grew up in Greensboro and joined the United States Army in 1944 when he was 17. He served in a tank battalion in General Patton's army, going into northern Europe in the closing days of the Second World War. When peace was declared, he joined to the United States military police, assigned to keep order among the German people in the chaos after the war. Soon fluent in German, he became an unofficial ambassador, making friends with people everywhere, often lifelong friendships. He served in the United States Constabulary patrolling the border between East and West Germany from 1947 to 1952.
He was sent to fight in the Korean conflict in 1952 and was seriously wounded. When his wounds healed, he rejoined his unit in Korea. When the Korean War ended in 1953, he returned to West Germany to marry Irmgard Harksel. He then received new orders to report to Fort Bliss, Texas where he pursued advanced training in radio and then in missile technology. While in Texas, his two sons, Michael and Thomas, were born. During those years, he went to his army job during the day and attended New Mexico State University at night, completing his Bachelor of Science degree.
Promoted to Chief Warrant Officer, Bob's next assignment took him to Barnstorf, West Germany in 1965, where he was in command of a NATO tactical missile unit. He obtained permission from NATO to start a school for American children of United States servicemen in the area and remained actively involved in the school during his stay there. While in Barnstorf, Robert was inducted into the Schutzenverein, an honor for any local citizen made more special for Robert as the only American to receive this recognition. He also was given a key to the city for his efforts in maintaining good relationships between U.S. forces and local government. He retired from the army in 1969 after a stellar 25 year career. He was heavily decorated and received many special commendations during his time in service. Among medals awarded him are two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star for valor.
Returning home to Greensboro, he entered a new career as a field engineer with Burroughs Corporation (now Unisys). He married Janice Pugh Dykes in 1982. Bob and Jan enjoyed a long and happy marriage. Together they blended two families and they kept family at the center of their lives. Bob and Jan loved to travel and together visited all 50 states and seven different countries in Europe. They enjoyed three long cruises and visited several countries in Central America and the Caribbean leaving them with special and irreplaceable memories. Together they were very active in church activities and Jan was by Bob's side in their involvement in several organizations for retired service personnel.
Bob was active in community projects including the Guilford County Preservation Society. As a deliverer for Mobile Meals, he saved a man's life when he entered a home and found the man choking. Bob was also very proud of the years he spent as the asst. scout master of Boy Scout Troop 117 here in Greensboro where he had a positive influence on the lives of many young men.
As a child, he read all the books in his house and remained a voracious reader all his life. In retirement, he participated in reading to children in the primary grades at his daughter Karen's school. Whenever he met a child he had read to, he would get a hug and read the first line of their favorite book, What Do You Say, Dear? Bob had a strong interest in his family genealogy and was well known by family and friends as a man who was often building or tinkering with something quite skillfully. He was a member of Trinity Covenant Church.
He is survived by his wife, Janice, a daughter, Karen, two sons and daughter -in-laws, Michael and Sarah, of Greensboro, and Thomas and Renee, of High Point, a stepdaughter Cindy Yow of Greensboro, a stepson Eddie Dykes and wife Julie of Greensboro, and a sister, Valerie Yow, of Chapel Hill, as well as nine grandchildren Steven, Brian, Elizabeth, Caleb, Carsyn, Curtis, Nick, Zack and Ferrari and a great-grandchild, Emma.
Published in News Record on January 22, 2010
Bio by: David Clay
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