Obituary of Robert Foster Moore

Dr. Robert Foster Moore (Bob) passed away at the age of 86 on Aug. 30, 2015, in Union, Missouri, with his family by his side. Bob was born on November 11, 1928 in Arkansas City, Kansas, the son of Foster and Thelma Moore. Together with his younger sister Margaret, the family moved to Topeka in 1943. After graduating from Topeka High in 1946, Bob continued his education at Kansas State University. It was during his senior year at KSU that he met, fell in love with, and married Betty Wakeman, after a whirlwind six-month courtship. Bob earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in chemistry, and from there, he went on to attend Kansas University Medical School, where he graduated with his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1956. During this time, Bob and Betty had four beautiful children. Following his medical school graduation, Bob served a two year tour in the U.S. Air Force in Waco, Texas, where he was both Chief of Surgery and Senior Flight Surgeon. After his military service, the Moore's relocated to Caney, Kansas in 1960, where Bob and Betty lived in the house on the hill until 2011 when they moved to Union, MO. For more than 40 years, Doc practiced medicine in Caney, Kansas. For most of that time, he served Caney as its sole medical provider, performing over 4,000 surgical procedures and delivering nearly 2,000 babies. He took an active interest in the Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge, the Mirza Shrine, and the Methodist Church choir. He served a term on the local school board, and was a founding member of the Coffeyville Community College Foundation. He served as president of his county medical society and counselor to the state medical society. He was at one time on the active attending staff of four area hospitals, and held associate professorships at both Kansas and Oklahoma medical schools. As much as he loved his job, Doc had a zest for life unlike many. In his spare time, he loved golf, fishing, hunting, flying, and competitive sports. Bridge, chess, reading, and solving puzzles were other passions. Together with his wife Betty, Bob enjoyed traveling to new places, meeting old friends, and making new ones; in fact, just three months before his passing, he journeyed to Dubai and India with two of his granddaughters, where he went to the top of the world's tallest building and marveled at the beauty of the Taj Mahal. Bob is predeceased by his parents, his sister Margaret, and his beloved wife Betty. He is survived by his four children: Dr. Steven Moore (wife Cristina) of Pebble Beach, CA, Dr. Curtis Moore (wife Melissa) of Olathe, KS, Nancy Moore of Union, MO, and Suzanne Curnutte (husband Edward) of Union, MO. In addition he leaves fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2015 at the Caney First United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Sunnyside Cemetery in Caney. The family will receive friends on Thursday at the Caney First United Methodist Church in Caney, KS on September 3rd from 5-7p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Caney First United Methodist Church; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.