Robert L. Lankard

Robert L. Lankard A November 20, 1924 ~ October 29, 2011 Robert Loyd Lankard, 86, of Meadville, passed away, Saturday, October 29, 2011, at the Meadville Medical Center after a three month period of failing health. Born November 20, 1924 in Harris, Kansas, he was the son of Jasper and Minnie Milliman Lankard. He macried Beverly R. Witherell on December 16, 1973 at the Kane Baptist Church. He graduated from Garnett High School in Kansas at ayoung age. Bob then attended the University of Kansas and earned his teaching degree. At the age of 17 he was a school teacher in Kansas at a one room school house for grades 7 through 12th. Also, in his, younger years, he had served in the National Guard in Missouri. Bob is a second generation pipeliner and during his career had worked for numerous contractors. He had worked in over 17 states for such companies as Bechtal, Mid-West, H. L. Jentry, Pipeline Maintenance, Harford Brothers, and Joyce Western Construction Company where he was Superintendent for 25 years. Bob joined Utility Constcuctors as a Construction Superintendent and was promoted to Pipeline General Superintendent. He currently was working for Skibeck Pipeline Company and Meridian Energy as a consultant. He had a wide spread experience in the management of pipeline construction projects. He had supervised the building of compressor stations from the groundbreaking to the stast up. An area Bob had vast experience in is pipe bending. He has held such positions as Bending Foreman and Bending Engineer dusing his long career. His most challenging project was a 17 mile gas line that ran through Pittsburgh. Bob was recently inducted into the Pipeline Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Matienville United Methodist Church, Bob was a member of the Linesville American Legion, Post 462. He took alot of pride in his garden, He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and was a great storteler. Most of all he loved spending time with his family and especially cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildcen. Survivors include his loving wife, Beverly R. Lankard; children, Sandra Crossley of Virginia, Karen DeCadlo and her husband, Dwight, of South Carolina, Diana Shimko and her husband, Buster, of Marleysburg, Pa, Rick Dyne of of Lewis Run, Pa, Mike Lankard and Carolyn McNeely of Waynesburg, ville, Linda McComb and her husband, Terry of Conneautville, Robin Com i enny Kahle and her husband, ‘Tom, of Marienville, Pa; 23 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four brothers and sisters, Ruth Hatch of Missouri, Jeanette Hiatt and her husband, Kelly, William Lankard, and James Lankard and his wife, Margaret, all of Kan in-law, Hilda Lankard of Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews He was preceded in death by his parents and five brothers, Don, Sam, Dick, Gene, and Leonard and a sister, Mary, Calling hours will be Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 US. Highway 6, Linesville. The funeral service will be 11 am. Wednesday at the funeral home. Military honors will be provided at the funeral home by the Huidekoper Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2006. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Kane, Pa. ‘The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Linesville American Legion, Post 462, PO Box 601, Linesville, Pa 16424, the American Heart Association, 777 Penn Center Blvd., Suite 200, Pittsburgh, Pa 15235 or the American Cancer Society, 505 Poplar St. Suite 310, Meadville, Pa 16335.