Robert Regan Obituary

Robert "Bob" V. Regan, 85, of Hope, Arkansas, a native of Berwyn, IL, passed away November 3, 2011 in his home with favorite songs playing in the background, psalms being read by his wife, surrounded by his family. Bob had nine children, was a deacon at Our Lady of Good Hope in Hope, Arkansas for nearly 25 years and was very active in social outreach serving on a committee headed by then Attorney General Bill Clinton, which studied the possibility of employing ex-convicts after early release from prison; helped orchestrate finances for Hope-In-Action, an outreach program to assist the hungry and homeless; and served on the board of the Southwest Arkansas Learning Clubs, Inc. which served undereducated children of poor parents in Hope, Magnolia and Lewisville. During World War II, Bob was a belly turret gunner on the Liberator, a B-24 bomber at Tyndall Field, Florida, and was in charge of the Inspection Processing Center at Craig Field, Selma, AL. When the Korean War started, Bob was recalled into the Air Force (Shaw Field, Sumter, SC) and moved to Columbia, SC with his family. He was the First Sergeant of a squadron and eventually was promoted to Personnel Sergeant Major while stationed at Brady Field, Fukuoka, Japan. Preceding Bob in death were his mother and father, Marie O'Connell Regan and John T. Regan; four brothers, Jack, Jim, Tom and Bill; one sister, Eileen Surin. Bob is survived by Mildred Brhel Regan, his wife of 64 years, also of Hope, AR. Surviving children are Mark of Chattanooga, TN; Mary Jo Powers of Santa Cruz, CA.; Rosanne (Dave) Hansel of New Hope, PA; Janice (Joe) Mullinax of Texarkana, AR; Richard (Joann Mahar) of Mableton, GA; Peggy Wright (Marc) Roys of Richmond, TX.; Carol (Mike) Sullivan of North Little Rock, AR; Daniel (Lorraine Picciotto) of Hope, AR. and John of Darien, IL. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, George (Pat) of Largo, FL; three sisters, Marge Murphy of Lake in the Hills, IL, Betty Sopcak of Darien, IL and Donna Griffin of West Dundee, IL and long time family friend, Carol Connor of Downers Grove, IL. In addition to services at Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church in Hope, Arkansas, a funeral mass will be celebrated by Bishop Andrew McDonald at St. Leonard's Catholic Church, Berwyn, IL. Burial services will follow immediately following the mass at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Stickney, IL. Memorial contributions may be sent to Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church, 315 South Walker St., Hope, AR 71801. To send online condolences, visit www.pharrfuneralhomes.com