Robert Dale (Bob) Packham declared on a Monday that he was dying, and on that next Sunday morning, November 24, 2024, he did. His wife Linda was with him and had been at his side throughout that last night, seeing to his care. His illness had progressed rapidly which saved him from lingering discomfort, but left his family and friends stunned. He was 81.
Bob was born February 13, 1943, in the midst of World War II in St. Louis, Mo, and his father, Walter Packham, was drafted into service soon after. Bobby and his mother, Margaret Smith Packham, moved in with an older couple known to the family as Mom and Pop Grady where he was cherished and doted on.
The family reunited after the war. When Bob was five years old, he was shocked and dismayed when his sister, Lynn Packham Larson, arrived to disturb his idyllic life. Six years later, after the birth of brother John Stuart Packham, the family moved to Kansas City, Mo. There Bob grew up, graduated from high school and earned his Associate of Arts degree.
While working at the Kansas City Flying Service he met and married his first wife. The Vietnam War was monopolizing the headlines. Bob served in the US Army for three years. During his tour of duty in Vietnam he was based in An Khe from November 1966 to November 1967. When Bob Hope’s USO Christmas show was filmed there, he said to look for him; he would be the one in the tree.
He was proud of his time in Vietnam as a Huey Helicopter Crew Chief in the First Cavalry Division. The nickname on his helmet was “Kansas City Star.” He could be seen for the rest of his life wearing a 1st Cav ball cap, and driving a car with the 1st Cav emblem decal.
Bob’s first child, Christopher, was born in 1968. Two years later, sister Jillian arrived. Both children inherited their father’s sense of humor and quick wit. When that early marriage dissolved, time spent with the kids and Margaret and Walter at their Lake of the Ozarks cabin was a healing time.
Bob always enjoyed technology. In this first job following military service, he was assigned to a group tasked with converting paper administrative systems to computerized processing. This experience in such pioneering work led to a 35-year career as a systems analyst. Bob retired from Ameritech (AT&T) in 2005.
Bob deeply believed in community service and was elected to public office for 5 terms as a Village Trustee in his suburban Chicago town of Hanover Park. During that period, he served as Deputy Village President and later a 2-year stint as Acting Mayor. He also served for many years on the local regional airport commission.
Bob shared his wife Linda’s commitment to international peace and understanding fostered through activities with the Hanover Park, Illinois/Cape Coast, Ghana Sister Cities program. The couple traveled to Ghana, West Africa, many times over the years.
Through their leadership the group established an elementary school, constructed a children’s hospital ward playroom, and funded a shelter for domestic violence victims. Such community efforts were recognized by Sister Cities International when Hanover Park/Cape Coast was awarded Sister City of the Year in 2016.
Over the years their personal devotion to this West African town grew. Bob and Linda paid for the primary and secondary educations of several Cape Coast youngsters; helped fund a young woman’s architectural studies, financed medical school for one young doctor now completing his residency, and committed to another recently entering first year medical studies.
But the one Cape Coast youngster who absolutely won their hearts was Sandra. Through a years-long struggle with paperwork and red tape they were at last able to adopt Sandra and officially welcome her into the family. She arrived in the US on Christmas Eve 2013. Jill achieved her dream of becoming a middle child.
In January 2019, Bob and Linda permanently moved to Eureka Springs where they joined the Eureka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, served as poll workers, and volunteered with the Museum of Eureka Springs Art. They enthusiastically supported all the arts. Bob never missed Homegrown Tales.
The family misses Bob. We remember the good times and his sense of humor and ready laugh: his wife of 48 years Linda McCance Packham; Chris (and Allie) Packham of Brooklyn, NY; Jill (and Anthony) Edwards of Buckeye, Ariz.; Sandra Packham of Colorado Springs, Colo. (and her husband Gabriel Kwantwi of Takoradi, Ghana); Lynn (and Albert) Larson of Eureka Springs; nephew Jeffrey (and Caitlin) Larson of Fayetteville, Ark.; grand-daughter Delilah Edwards, grand-niece Sydney McGettrick; and many others!
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m. at the Eureka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 17 Elk Street. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution to one of Bob’s favorite local organizations: the Carnegie Public Library, the Museum of Eureka Springs Art, the Eureka Springs Historical Society, or Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.