Robert Edwin "Bob" Couch was born at Anthony, Kansas, May 28, 1930, the second of two sons born to Charles E. and Sarah Ellen (nee. Williams) Couch.  His father, Charles, died in February 1947, when he was 16 years old.

At an early age Bob was baptized in the First Congregational Church in Anthony, Kansas.  Even when in the military or living away from Anthony, Bob considered "First Church" his home church.

Bob attended Anthony public schools, graduating Anthony High School with the Class of 1948.  Following high school, Bob entered Kansas University.  While attending KU, the Korean War broke out.  Presuming they would soon be drafted into military service, Bob and his roommate opted to take a battery of tests to seek admission into the United States Air Force flight training program.  They qualified and were granted an education deferment and tentative date of induction.  Later, they were notified "the pipeline is full" and the deferment would not be extended.  Two options were presented:  withdraw from the flight training program and be drafted, or enlist in the USAF, forthwith, serving as enlisted personnel until slots opened in the flight training program and they would be called-up.  Bob enlisted and was inducted into the USAF in January 1951, serving as an academic instructor for basic trainees at Sheppard AFB, Texas, until July 1951.

During the ensuing fifteen months Bob entered flight training and began training in the T-6 and T-28 aircraft, followed by the T-33 jet aircraft, all at various Air Force bases in Texas, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.  He was then sent to Tyndeall AFB, Florida, for advanced gunnery training in the F-80 jet, and then to Shaw AFB, South Carolina for aerial photo reconnaissance training in the RF-80 jet.

In March 1952, Bob was deployed to K-14 AFB, Korea, from which he flew forty-four (44) combat missions.  His last mission, July 27, 1953, the last day of armed conflict of the Korean War, he flew a Top Secret aerial photo reconnaissance mission that took him as deep into the Santung Peninsula of China as a full fuel load would permit.  He was awarded the Air Medal based upon this particular mission.  (Had his plane gone down for any reason, and he be captured, he would not have been treated as a POW, but as a spy.)  This mission was not declassified until the late 1980's.

Bob finished his Air Force commitment as a T-33 flight instructor at Laredo AFB, Texas, training flight cadets from the US, France, Holland, Denmark, Norway and Columbia.  After separation from the Air Force, Bob joined an Air National Guard unit in Wichita, Kansas, for a short while.

About three months after separation from the service, Bob returned to KU to complete his degree and then enter the world of commerce and industry.

In 1959, Bob married Virginia Goddard, also of Anthony.  Two children were born of their marriage:  Alan Couch and Cynthia Diane Couch, known as "Diane."

Throughout his working career, Bob worked for various major US corporations in outside sales.

Bob was an avid reader.  He always had a book to read and when he finished one, he would walk to the library and select another to check-out and read.  Bob was more than once heard to say that he could learn most anything he wanted to do by reading.  For the most part, read-study-do, worked pretty well for him.

Bob taught himself to play the piano by reading-studying-doing.  He bought himself a keyboard and enjoyed playing the old American Standards.

Bob taught himself to paint in watercolor by reading-studying-doing.  He enjoyed painting landscapes, seascapes and boats, particularly when living in Washington State.

Bob taught himself to play golf, again by reading-studying-doing.  He enjoyed very much playing golf with his friends.  While playing with his usual golf buddies at the Anthony Golf Club, Bob sunk a hole-in-one on the 7th hole.  (That sounds like more doing than reading!)

For many years Bob enjoyed investing, principally in mutual funds, augmenting his skills by reading-studying-doing.  After he retired, Bob read and studied further before testing for certification as an investment advisor.  He achieved certification on his first attempt and began assisting others with their individual investment programs.

There are no doubt other activities that Bob taught himself successfully primarily through reading, but one notable failure was ballroom dancing!

In March 1989, Bob was married to Diane I. Cleveland (nee. Brown).  Bob brought to the marriage his beloved Schnauzer, Fred.  After Fred, Bob and Diane purchased a Carine Terrier, Lucy.  As long as he was able, Bob enjoyed taking Fred and later Lucy, for a walk.  The dog walking was not a task to be performed, but an outing for a man and his best friend.

Bob was an active member of the Anthony Club of Lions International, serving as a member or chair of several committees.

Returning to Anthony after many years of absence, Bob affirmed his membership in the First Congregational Church [UCC] of Anthony, Kansas, where he was an active member and served on boards and committees and was church treasurer for many years.

In order to advance not only his personal interests in the arts, but in order to contribute to the advancement and interest in the arts in the wider community, in 2015 Bob funded the purchase of "the old Carnegie Library" by The Arts Center, Inc., for its headquarters and studios.

After advancing Alzheimer's made it impossible for him to remain at home, Bob entered Anthony Community Care Center where his needs could be met by the very caring administration and staff.  The entire family of Robert E. Couch, are thankful and appreciative for the excellent care provided to Bob by everyone at ACCC and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.  On January 4, 2020, after a long battle with Alzheimer's, Bob quietly succumbed to the ravages of the disease.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Sarah Couch; a stillborn sister; and his brother, John.  He is survived by his wife, Diane, of the home, and her family, with whom he grew quite close over the thirty years past (her son, Greg, and his wife, Belinda, their adult sons and their respective families; her daughter, Mary Julana Hall, and her husband, David, and their adult sons and their respective families); his son, Alan; his daughter, Diane Dawson and husband, Curt; grandchildren, Adrian, Mary Claire, Spencer and Brandon; two great-grandchildren; nephew, Charles and niece, Nancy and their respective families.

Memorial service was held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 11, 2020 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony, Kansas with Reverend Rebecca New officiating.  Musical selections "You Raise Me Up" and "To Where You Are" by Josh Groban and "The Prayer" by Andrea Bocelli and Katharine McPhee, were played.  Debbie Volovka served as the prelude/postlude pianist.

Military Honors were performed by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

A private inurnment was held at Forest Park Cemetery, Anthony, Kansas.

Memorials in memory of Bob may be made to The Art's Center and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, was in charge of arrangements.