Robert James Short, 80, peacefully entered his heavenly home surrounded by family on January 28, 2022. “Bob” was born to Daniel and Julia (Likas) Short on January 16, 1942, in Oelwein, Iowa. He attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in his hometown from kindergarten through high school. A lifelong friend remembers him during those years as “a good guy who was nice to everyone and everybody liked him.” In high school, Bob loved and excelled in baseball as a star pitcher; and basketball as a record-holder for second highest points scored in the school’s basketball history. Bob furthered his education at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Programming in 1964. He then enlisted in the Iowa National Guard, serving a six year term with the Oelwein Infantry unit. In 1965, Bob’s career began in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at Wilson Foods Corp., as a mainframe computer systems analyst. At work, he met his first wife, Laura Dye, and married in 1968. His job later transferred them to Chicago in 1971, then to Oklahoma City in 1973. They had two daughters before Laura passed away. Bob was a devoted and supportive single father to his two daughters during their childhood, high school and college years. He served as a dedicated cameraman for his daughter’s little league sports teams; made his favorite holiday, Christmas, a special time; and returned to Iowa annually. In 1995, Bob switched employment to Hertz Corporation, continuing work in various phases of data processing. A year later, Bob joyfully married Gwendolyn Brock. This union also joined her two adult children to the new blended family. Bob began his retirement in 2010 and enjoyed spending time with his eight grandchildren, fishing in his backyard pond, doing yard work watching sports (forever faithful to his Iowa Hawkeyes), and bonding with the family dog. During the final month of his earthly life, Bob celebrated his and Gwen’s 26th wedding anniversary; and his 80th birthday. He will be fondly remembered as a loyal, humble and kind man. Bob is survived by wife, Gwendolyn Short (Oklahoma City); daughter, Jennifer Taylor and husband, Todd (Luther, OK); daughter, Amy Lockhart and husband, Chris (Oklahoma City); step-son, Tom Brock and wife, Kandee (Katy, TX); step-daughter, Robin Prewett (Ashburn, Virginia); and grandchildren, Abigail Brock, Austin Prewett, Ashleigh Brock, Laura Taylor, Cassie Lockhart, Bethany Brock, Evelyn Lockhart, and Alivia Prewett; brothers- and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews; family friends; and lifelong friends.
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