Robert P. Panko was born June 12, 1940, in Newport, KY, and died November 29, 2024, in Oklahoma City, OK. He was the third son of Carl and Lillian Panko. His brothers Richard and Ronald predeceased him. He completed his elementary education at Immaculate Conception grade school before graduating from Newport Catholic High School in 1958. He worked several jobs in retail and sales in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, OH, before he was drafted into the United States Army in 1962. He served the majority of his conscription with Hq. Btry. 6th Gun Bn. 14th Arty. at Ft. Sill, OK. While there he played on his battery's flag football team which was undefeated post champion in 1963 and 1964.
While still in the Army he met Esther Anne Nobbe of Coyle, OK., whom he married in 1965 after his honorable discharge from active duty. This union lasted until 2011 when Esther died one week before their 46th anniversary. They had two sons; Eddie of Edmond, OK, and Joe of Plano, TX, and two grandsons Ethan and Evan of Edmond, OK.
Robert enrolled in Central State College in 1967 and graduated after it was renamed Central State University in 1971. He began employment at the Veterans Administration Regional Office in Muskogee, OK, that same year and retired in 2003. He moved to Edmond in 2006 where he enjoyed watching his grandsons grow into Christian young men.
Visitation will be Wednesday, December 4th from 6PM – 8PM at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 S Kelly Ave, Edmond, OK. Funeral service will be Thursday, December 5th at 1 PM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 308 NW 164th St, Edmond, OK, followed by burial in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.