Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

September 28, 1924 - January 20, 2018

Karl, Robert Frederick

Age 93, died peacefully on January 20, 2018. He is survived by his devoted wife, Marion Cummings Karl and his beloved daughters, Leslie Anne Karl Sherman and Robin Karl Konkle (Michael), as well as his adored grandchildren, Jeffrey Karl Konkle (Jarie) and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Konkle and the lights of his life, his great-grandsons, Calvin James Konkle and Casey Robert Konkle.

Bob graduated from Baldwin High School in 1943, where he was a member of the baseball and track teams, as well as the cheerleading squad and many social clubs. Upon graduation, he served in the Third Army under General Patton as a member of a squad of combat engineer scouts, whose role was to enter and scout enemy territory in advance of the main body of troops and to construct such things as pontoon bridges to facilitate the advance of Patton's army. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp. Bob recalled in later years that his unit was pinned down by enemy fire in a small German village for over six weeks. At one point, his hands became frozen to his rifle.

Following the Allied victory in Europe, Bob was selected to join an amphibious assault force being assembled to attack Japan, but the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the subsequent Japanese surrender mooted this deployment. He seldom spoke about his war experiences until many years later but always felt proud to have served his country, as his father had done during World War I.

After Bob was demobilized, he entered and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1949, where he met his future wife, Marion, to whom he was happily married for 69 years. His business career encompassed positions in sales administration and purchasing for E.J. Lavino, Koppers and Pittsburgh Public Schools.

Upon their simultaneous retirement, Bob and Marion traveled extensively, visiting 23 foreign countries and 48 of the U.S. states. During his lifetime, Bob was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, South Hills Country Club, South Hills Golf Club and Hamilton Presbyterian Church, where he served as Head Usher, Deacon, Elder and Trustee. For many years, Bob and Marion delivered Meals on Wheels to housebound people in the South Hills.

For the past 10 years, Bob and Marion have called Friendship Village of South Hills their home, after residing in Brentwood and Whitehall Boroughs. At Friendship Village, Bob was a member of the Building Committee, the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Grounds Committee and amateur actor, as well as a popular bingo-caller.

Interment service will be private, but a memorial service to celebrate Bob's life will be held at Friendship Village in the near future.