Obituary for Robert Urban

Robert Urban

August 21, 1935 – July 25, 2019

Robert Urban, age 83, Ponca City resident, went to be with his Father in Heaven on Thursday, July 25, 2019. Friends and loved ones may pay their respects at the funeral home on Monday, July 29, 2019 from 8am-8pm with the family present to greet friends from 5-6pm. A graveside ceremony with U. S. Army Honors will be held at Longwood Cemetery at 10am Tuesday, July 30, 2019 with Pastor Mark Berry of Eastern Heights Christian Church officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Robert was the last of ten children born to Rudolph and Eva Urban on a homestead near Epping, North Dakota. Robert was preceded in death by his mother and father, six sisters, and three brothers. Survivors include his wife, Marian, of the home, son, Jeffrey Urban and wife, Lynn of Durango, Colorado, daughter, Tonya Stevens and husband Jerry of Dora, Alabama, grandchildren, Amanda Austin, Aiden Urban, and T’ea Stevens.

Robert attended Epping Public School and graduated first in his class from Williston High School. Robert worked as a surveyor assistant. Later, a fabricator in a sheet metal shop in San Diego, CA. in 1954, he and four friends volunteered for the draft to the Army. Upon completion of basic training, was shipped to Korea for a fourteen month tour of duty. He returned to the US after the Korean assignment and was honorably discharged from active duty in 1956. He then attended N. D. School of Forestry from 1956 to 1957 and transferred to Michigan College of Mining and Technology from 1957-1958 and then transferred to the University of Idaho from 1958-1959. Next, he worked construction of a water plant and returned to the University of Idaho from 1960-1961 completing his degree in geology. He went to work for Continental Oil Co. as a geophysical trainee on a seismic crew in 1961 where he held several positions. He moved 17 times in 7 1/2 years in various states, then moved to Ponca City and lived there for 11 years. In 1980, the family moved to Cairo, Egypt where Robert served as the operation geophysical supervisor then moved back to Ponca City in 1984 where he held several overseas and local assignments until retirement in 1993.

His joy was his travels to 33 foreign countries and visiting most of the states in the US. He was an avid reader of history and science.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Eastern Heights Christian Church, 5100 Lake Road, Ponca City, OK 74604, The Salvation Army, 111 West Comanche, Ponca City, OK 74601, or the Foundation Fighting Blindness, 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 21046.

Source: Trout Funeral Home