Robert Russell McNabb

On March 24th, 2023, at the age of 87 Robert Russell McNabb, our dearly beloved Husband, Dad, Brother, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, friend & mentor passed away peacefully with his family at his side. He will be missed, but fondly remembered.

 
“Bob”(born in Lethbridge, AB), to all who knew him, was the first of three children born to Robert and Gladys McNabb (Macdonald) on May 25th, 1935. Survived by his sister Muriel Beningfield (Lethbridge) and brother Harold McNabb (Victoria, BC). Being born into the Dirty Thirties, but blessed with intelligence, industriousness, and resilience he was able to succeed. Bob worked extremely hard to help support his family. He did a lot of manual labour, had a huge paper route as a youngster, taught himself how to grind lenses for glasses for an optician, taught gymnastics in Lethbridge as well as being an activities leader & lifeguard for the summer playgrounds.

He graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Commerce while working for the Hudson’s Bay company in Edmonton. Later, to the delight of his young children, he and friend, Bill Ash, founded Tops ’n Toys, a local toy store chain. After selling his share, Bob resettled the family in Winnipeg where he ran Beaver Lumber’s western operations from Ontario to Vancouver Island, BC.
Throughout his life, his VERY FULL life, Bob was very active in community, work, church, coaching and travel (even going on an adventure to India with a close friend) and art (namely watercolour painting in which he took lessons and then went on to teach.) The love of Barbie, his children, family, art, and Jesus really were the biggest passions in his life.
Bob met his beloved wife (Barbie) and best friend of 66 years, Barbara Anne (Price) on a blind date with friends in 1956. They spent their life together in Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Chapala, Mexico, Lethbridge and finally Coaldale.
They have 3 children; Gregg (Kyoko)(Japan), Cindy (Coaldale), and Kevin (Jean)(Red Deer)
 Dad, Grandpa and Great Grandpa would have wanted us to mention proudly the following members of his family: Grandson Kenji (Vancouver) Granddaughter Adrienne (Jason)(Winnipeg), Great Grandchild Austin (Winnipeg), Grandson Eric (Winnipeg) (also an artist), Jean and sons, Blaine (Red Deer), Riley (Calgary) & Bryce (Red Deer).
During their life together Bob and Barb had some great adventures. The biggest ones were traveling across the US in tents, just picnicking & camping wherever they felt they should stop; then seeing all the sites in that area and packing up and continuing. They did this for about 10 months in the early nineties. They moved to Chapala, Mx. right after that and developed many new friends, joined a church, brought many into the church and led an exemplary life while being very happy and fulfilled. Having met some of the folks they did, led to yet another adventure, when they were already 70+ years of age...as missionaries to Africa in 2005.
They ventured to Rwanda, Kenya, and Barb to Mozambique as well, then back to Mexico.
Those are the highlights of a life well lived.

We love you Bob, Husband, Dad, Brother, Grandpa. Enjoy your well-earned rest.
 

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