Robert Alton Delap

Robert Alton Delap, 75, of Winslow, Ark., died Dec. 23, 2020, at Fayetteville, Ark.

H e wa s born Ju n e 12, 1945, at Peoria, Ill., to Joseph Alton Delap and Ella Laureen Speedlin Delap. The family moved to Bartlesville, Okla., in 1946 and he grew up there and later moved with the family to Dewey, Okla. He graduated from Dewey High School in 1963.

Following high school he entered studies at the University of Oklahoma and also enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard, 45th Infantry Division, and had training at Ft. Sill in field artillery. He completed his degrees in Theater and Greek at OU, doing theater work mostly on the technical side, but he did have parts in a number of plays. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha for a time. After graduation he entered the Army, having completed Officer Candidate School at Ft. Sill. He ultimately earned the rank of 1st Lieutenant, serving in Vietnam from Summer 1967 to Summer 1968. While in Vietnam, he was stationed at Camp Carroll, near the border with North Vietnam, where he commanded one of the batteries of subatomic cannons. His position was attacked during the Tet offensive in February 1968, but the attackers were driven off.

Upon returning from Vietnam, he worked in several different cities around the country, but finally returned to his love of gardening and living off the land. He found his place in Winslow and lived in a teepee while he built his house, which was completed with help from neighbors and family. Over the years he built an orchard there, raised goats, always had a big garden, and a collection of dogs and cats to keep the mice at bay. He never married, but always had a smile and a good story to share, and will be missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Alton Delap and Ella Laureen Speedlin Delap.

He is survived by his sisters, Anne Delap Shalaby, Cairo, Egypt, Jane Delap Hawes, Edmond, Okla., and Carol Delap Lambert, Tulsa, Okla.; two nieces, Nada Shalaby, New York, N.Y., and Ranya Shalaby, Cairo, Egypt.

Private burial service was held at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville.

An online guestbook is available at www.luginbuel.com.

Luginbuel Funeral Home of Prairie Grove, Ark., is in charge of arrangements.