| Obituary | VAN BLARCOM, Mr. Robert D. of Kalamazoo died Thursday, April 1, 1999 in Kalamazoo. Robert was born March 25, 1913 in Kalamazoo, MI, a son of Byron and Viola (Cox) Van Blarcom, and had lived in this area for most of his life. In 1945 he began working for Mr. Floyde Johnson at Johnson-Howard Company, a small northside lumber company. In 1950, Bob purchased the company from its former owner and over the years it grew to become the Johnson-Howard Lumber Company of Kalamazoo and Paw Paw. In 1995 the company was sold and Bob retired after working there for 50 years.
August 26, 1932 he was united in marriage to the former Barbara Chase, who preceded him in death on July 8, 1995. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Helen Sweet; and an infant niece. Surviving are 2 daughters and a son, Susan (James) Horrocks of Portage, Betsy (Donald) Barry of Chicago, IL, and R. David Van Blarcom of Kalamazoo; 7 grandchildren, Tamara (Michael) Toppe, Timothy (Paula) Horrocks, Teresa Jo (Mark) Luke, Thomas Horrocks and his wife, Diane My-ers, and Julia, Laura and Sandra Shafer; 3 great-grandchildren, Jonathan and Jason Horrocks and Jennifer Hoppe.
Services for Mr. Van Blarcom will be 1:00 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church,
212 S. Park St., with the Rev. Kenneth McCaw officiating. Friends may
meet the family Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the LANGELAND Family Funeral Homes MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 622 S. Burdick St. Interment in Mt. Ever-Rest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Kalamazoo Downtown Optimist Club or to the charity of one's choice. |
