Robert Skelton

Dr. Robert H. Skelton Dr. Robert H. Skelton, son of the late Fred and Erma Lee Waters Skelton, was born January 1, 1939 in Talequah, Oklahoma and passed away on February 16, 2010, in Cape Girardeau. He was a voting member of the Western Band of Cherokee Nation. His great grandfather, Buckskin Waters, was orphaned during the forced march of the Cherokee Indians on what was later called the Trail of Tears. Dr. Skelton completed his PhD. of Education from the University of Arkansas in 1969. His dissertation was entitled The History of Education of the Cherokee. He was a member of the History Department of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau for 31 years. He was a member of the Southeast Missouri Council of Social Studies for 30 years. He served on committees concerning minority issues, athletics, and criminal justice. During much of his time with the university he served as the Counselor for the Students of the Department of History. During his retirement, he lived on a farm in Stoddard County near Bloomfield, Missouri with his wife and found pleasure walking amongst his beef cattle. He was a board member of the Stars and Stripes Museum and Public Water District Number 5 boards. Dr. Skelton was an avid sportsman who enjoyed hunting deer and squirrel and fishing. He was most happy when he could enjoy the out of doors and allowed area youth the opportunity to fish and hunt his land as well. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Kathryn Mooney Skelton; three daughters Cynthia Dee Fox, Nancy Gail Skelton, and Stephany Guglielmo and one son Robert A. Barney. He was much loved by his family, friends and students. His life was celebrated and honored by a reception held at the Stars and Stripes Museum. It was his request that memorials be sent to The Stars and Stripes Museum at Bloomfield, Missouri, 63825. Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home in Bloomfield was in charge of the arrangements.