Bobby Duane “Bob” Waddle, 94, passed away Monday, July 26, 2021, at Legend of Hutchinson. He was born October 11, 1926, on the family farm near Abbyville, to Fred Sherman and Edna Pauline (Krauter) Waddle.
Bob was a 1944 graduate of Abbyville High School and a United States Navy veteran who served in the Pacific Theater. He was a farmer/stockman and had served on several community boards, including Farmers Grain Cooperative, Enterprise Township, and Abbyville Booster Club. Bob started playing the guitar at age 14 and continued playing for enjoyment and dances for many years.
On November 3, 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Gayle Ailene Foster, in the Abbyville Methodist Church parsonage. They shared over 53 years of marriage before her death on April 9, 2000.
Surviving are: daughters, Rebecca Lindahl and husband Gary of Plevna, and Bonnie Ehling and husband Doyle of Hutchinson; sister, S. Darlene Buck of South Hutchinson; sister-in-law, Shirley Waddle of Enid, OK; five grandchildren, Angela Wilkinson and husband Victor of Hutchinson, Regina Davis and husband Chris of Aledo, TX, Valli Dawn Booe and husband Travis of Hutchinson, Jeremy Lindahl and wife Ruth of Buhler, and Benjamin Ehling and wife Tara of Wentzville, MO; 14 great-grandchildren, Garrett Wilkinson of Boston, MA, Brecken Wilkinson of Hutchinson, Quinn Davis of Rogers, AR, Zack and Lexi Davis of Aledo, TX, Carter and Ayla Booe of Hutchinson, Tanner, Austin, and Gavin Lindahl of Buhler, and Rhett Ehling of Hutchinson, Ryen, Reygan, and Renna Ehling of Wentzville, MO; and special friend, Earlene Dupree of Cimarron.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Richard “Dick” Waddle.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021, at Elliott Mortuary Chapel with Garrett Wilkinson and Michael Ehling presiding. Burial, with military honors conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard, will be at Abbyville Cemetery.
To view Bob’s funeral service online, the link will be available at the end of his obituary on Elliott Mortuary website the day of the service beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary.