Robert H. Kabrich (Bob) was born in Christiansburg, Virginia. He was the youngest child of Joseph Edward "Ed" Kabrich and Minnie Rose Harris. According to his older sister, Bob was the first one in the family born in a hospital.
Bob graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1943 and was drafted by the Army to fight in World War II. He first saw combat in 1944 during the D-Day invasion. He was badly wounded and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He returned to combat but became ill with hepatitis. He spent some time in the hospital in England, then he was sent to Chicago to finish his recuperation and served the rest of his enlistment as an orderly at the hospital where he had once been a patient. He was honorably discharged from the Army in May 1945.
Bob reenlisted in the Army in 1946. He spent two years in Korea as part of the occupation force there. He advanced in rank to Corporal, returned to the United States, and was again honorably discharged in 1949. Bob then began attending Virginia Tech, but his education was interrupted when the Army recalled him from inactive reserve, and he spent another year in Korea in 1950 during the armed hostilities there.
Bob went back to college using the benefits of the GI Bill. He met Patricia Ann Lawrence (Pat) on a co-ed church retreat that included students from both Virginia Tech and Radford. They fell in love and got married on June 16, 1952. Pat encouraged Bob to continue with his education while she managed their emerging family, and Bob finally graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Art's degree in Sociology.
In late 1956, Bob became a juvenile probation officer for Fairfax County, Virginia. He remained in that position until his death in 1994. He was a dedicated professional who earned the respect of his colleagues, and he made a difference in the lives of many troubled teen aged boys, to the relief of their concerned parents.
Bob and Pat had 2 children and two grandchildren. Three great-grandchildren were born after Bob's death in 1994. Bob was active in his community, coaching girls softball, attending St. Luke's United Methodist Church, and participating in several square dance clubs. He not only became a master square dancer, he also took up square dance calling as a hobby. He frequently volunteered to call dances at a local rehabilitation facility. To Bob his most important achievement was taking care of his family, a job he did with unfailing faith and love for both his wife and his children and grandchildren. He is still missed by all who held him dear.
Bob graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1943 and was drafted by the Army to fight in World War II. He first saw combat in 1944 during the D-Day invasion. He was badly wounded and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He returned to combat but became ill with hepatitis. He spent some time in the hospital in England, then he was sent to Chicago to finish his recuperation and served the rest of his enlistment as an orderly at the hospital where he had once been a patient. He was honorably discharged from the Army in May 1945.
Bob reenlisted in the Army in 1946. He spent two years in Korea as part of the occupation force there. He advanced in rank to Corporal, returned to the United States, and was again honorably discharged in 1949. Bob then began attending Virginia Tech, but his education was interrupted when the Army recalled him from inactive reserve, and he spent another year in Korea in 1950 during the armed hostilities there.
Bob went back to college using the benefits of the GI Bill. He met Patricia Ann Lawrence (Pat) on a co-ed church retreat that included students from both Virginia Tech and Radford. They fell in love and got married on June 16, 1952. Pat encouraged Bob to continue with his education while she managed their emerging family, and Bob finally graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Art's degree in Sociology.
In late 1956, Bob became a juvenile probation officer for Fairfax County, Virginia. He remained in that position until his death in 1994. He was a dedicated professional who earned the respect of his colleagues, and he made a difference in the lives of many troubled teen aged boys, to the relief of their concerned parents.
Bob and Pat had 2 children and two grandchildren. Three great-grandchildren were born after Bob's death in 1994. Bob was active in his community, coaching girls softball, attending St. Luke's United Methodist Church, and participating in several square dance clubs. He not only became a master square dancer, he also took up square dance calling as a hobby. He frequently volunteered to call dances at a local rehabilitation facility. To Bob his most important achievement was taking care of his family, a job he did with unfailing faith and love for both his wife and his children and grandchildren. He is still missed by all who held him dear.
Robert H. Kabrich (Bob) was born in Christiansburg, Virginia. He was the youngest child of Joseph Edward "Ed" Kabrich and Minnie Rose Harris. According to his older sister, Bob was the first one in the family born in a hospital.
Bob graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1943 and was drafted by the Army to fight in World War II. He first saw combat in 1944 during the D-Day invasion. He was badly wounded and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He returned to combat but became ill with hepatitis. He spent some time in the hospital in England, then he was sent to Chicago to finish his recuperation and served the rest of his enlistment as an orderly at the hospital where he had once been a patient. He was honorably discharged from the Army in May 1945.
Bob reenlisted in the Army in 1946. He spent two years in Korea as part of the occupation force there. He advanced in rank to Corporal, returned to the United States, and was again honorably discharged in 1949. Bob then began attending Virginia Tech, but his education was interrupted when the Army recalled him from inactive reserve, and he spent another year in Korea in 1950 during the armed hostilities there.
Bob went back to college using the benefits of the GI Bill. He met Patricia Ann Lawrence (Pat) on a co-ed church retreat that included students from both Virginia Tech and Radford. They fell in love and got married on June 16, 1952. Pat encouraged Bob to continue with his education while she managed their emerging family, and Bob finally graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Art's degree in Sociology.
In late 1956, Bob became a juvenile probation officer for Fairfax County, Virginia. He remained in that position until his death in 1994. He was a dedicated professional who earned the respect of his colleagues, and he made a difference in the lives of many troubled teen aged boys, to the relief of their concerned parents.
Bob and Pat had 2 children and two grandchildren. Three great-grandchildren were born after Bob's death in 1994. Bob was active in his community, coaching girls softball, attending St. Luke's United Methodist Church, and participating in several square dance clubs. He not only became a master square dancer, he also took up square dance calling as a hobby. He frequently volunteered to call dances at a local rehabilitation facility. To Bob his most important achievement was taking care of his family, a job he did with unfailing faith and love for both his wife and his children and grandchildren. He is still missed by all who held him dear.
Bob graduated from Christiansburg High School in 1943 and was drafted by the Army to fight in World War II. He first saw combat in 1944 during the D-Day invasion. He was badly wounded and was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He returned to combat but became ill with hepatitis. He spent some time in the hospital in England, then he was sent to Chicago to finish his recuperation and served the rest of his enlistment as an orderly at the hospital where he had once been a patient. He was honorably discharged from the Army in May 1945.
Bob reenlisted in the Army in 1946. He spent two years in Korea as part of the occupation force there. He advanced in rank to Corporal, returned to the United States, and was again honorably discharged in 1949. Bob then began attending Virginia Tech, but his education was interrupted when the Army recalled him from inactive reserve, and he spent another year in Korea in 1950 during the armed hostilities there.
Bob went back to college using the benefits of the GI Bill. He met Patricia Ann Lawrence (Pat) on a co-ed church retreat that included students from both Virginia Tech and Radford. They fell in love and got married on June 16, 1952. Pat encouraged Bob to continue with his education while she managed their emerging family, and Bob finally graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Art's degree in Sociology.
In late 1956, Bob became a juvenile probation officer for Fairfax County, Virginia. He remained in that position until his death in 1994. He was a dedicated professional who earned the respect of his colleagues, and he made a difference in the lives of many troubled teen aged boys, to the relief of their concerned parents.
Bob and Pat had 2 children and two grandchildren. Three great-grandchildren were born after Bob's death in 1994. Bob was active in his community, coaching girls softball, attending St. Luke's United Methodist Church, and participating in several square dance clubs. He not only became a master square dancer, he also took up square dance calling as a hobby. He frequently volunteered to call dances at a local rehabilitation facility. To Bob his most important achievement was taking care of his family, a job he did with unfailing faith and love for both his wife and his children and grandchildren. He is still missed by all who held him dear.
Inscription
Robert Harris
KABRICH
CPL USA
1925 1994
HIS WIFE
PATRICIA
1932 2012
Gravesite Details
Interred May 12, 1995, his 70th birthdday
