Robert R March

     Robert March (“Bob”) was born at home on 5/11/1931 in Knox City, MO.  His parents were the late Robert and Eva March.  He graduated from Central High School in 1949. Soon after graduation, Bob enlisted in the Navy and completed Basic Training in San Diego, CA. 
     Bob flew from Guam in the eye of a typhoon and rode on bucket seats to Tachikawa Air Base in Japan.  He boarded his ship the Fred C. Ainsworth in Yokosuka and this became his home for the next four years.  Later, he was deployed on The USS Graffias, AF29 which was a refrigerator cargo vessel that carried supplies to ships in Korea. Bob made friends with everyone and befriended two Japanese pianists, and played at Club Hollywood in Yokosuka nightly.  
     Bob started his musical career playing for the Presbyterian Church at the age of 12. He taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Kellerville. Received his MS Degree in 1961 from the University of Illinois with his undergraduate work done at Culver-Stockton where he graduated cum laude.  Bob’s piano instructor at Culver was Wm. Spencer Johnson, whose teacher, Carl Reinecke, was a student of Franz Liszt. Bob was a music teacher for Unit #3 in Camp Point.  He also taught private piano lessons, and if you know how to play the piano in this area, you likely were taught by Bob March. 
     Bob played in the Quincy Symphony Orchestra (55 years), Symphony Chorus, Muddy River Opera, Little Theater (60 plus years), and Panorama.  He played for beauty pageants, local bands, several local churches, nursing homes, the Rotary Club, PMO, The Notre Dame Choirs, and about a million students for contests.  
     In 1956, Bob married Margaret Amen and had three children:  Sharon, Steve, and Janet.  Bob and his wife, Margaret were Concessionaires at Siloam Springs State Park for 28 years.  Bob was Scoutmaster for Troop 19 in Clayton. He and several Troop 19 scouts received the 50-Miler Award for a Wilderness Trek down the Mississippi River by canoe. 
     He served as Vice President of the Adams County Music Education Association and was Vice President of the Quincy Choral Society.  He served as Adjudicator for the Piano Teachers’ Guild, District and State music contests, and Director and Accompanist for All-State Music Festivals. 
He received several awards, among which was The Enid Ireland Arts Award.  He was recently inducted into the Culver-Stockton Arts Hall of Fame. He will be fondly remembered by a multitude of students, friends, and his family.
     Surviving are his children, Steve (Karen) March of Clayton, and Janet March of Clayton, his son-in-law, Bill Hendricks of Liberty, his grandchildren, Kendra (Matt) Harris and their son Hudson, of Liberty, Kara Mueller (Lisa Schwartz) of Quincy, Tyler (Evelyn) Hendricks and their daughter, Charlotte, of Ewing, MO., Stephanie Hendricks and her children, Joey, Charlie, and Cody of Quincy, David March of Clayton, Shawn March and his daughters, Jayde and Ady, of Clayton, and Dawn March (Chance Typer) and their children, Everly and Gideon Typer of Sadorus, IL.
     He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his daughter, Sharon Hendricks, and his brother, Bill March.
     Funeral services will be held Saturday (June 10, 2023) at 10:00 a.m. at the First Federated Church in Clayton by Pastor Kay Daniels. Burial with military honors will follow at South Side Cemetery in Clayton.
     Visitation will be held Friday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the First Federated Church in Clayton.
     Memorials may be made to the Clayton Public Library, Panther Pride Foundation, or the Community for Christ Assistance Center.
     Online condolences may be left at www.hamiltonfuneralhomes.net.
     The Hamilton Funeral Home in Clayton is handling the arrangements.