Robert P. Ebersole, Leawood
Robert P. Ebersole, 92, Leawood, Kansas died May 31, 2023.
Bob was born December 17, 1930, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Paul and Mildred Ebersole and grew up in Fort Dodge, Iowa, through his elementary school and high school years. He attended the University of Iowa, graduating with a business degree in 1953 and a law degree, Juris Doctor, in 1957. A year later he completed an M.B.A degree at Northwestern University in Chicago. He was admitted to the practice of law in both Kansas and Iowa.
Between the two Iowa degrees, Bob served as a U.S. Air Force Personnel and Administrative Officer. He was a major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Judge Advocate Division.
After this time he started his family with then-wife, Marilyn Mermis. They had three children, Amy, Andrew, and Alec.
His career in law, banking, and insurance began as a cashier at the First National Bank in Hays, Kansas, in 1960. He became president and CEO of that bank in 1964. During his career there, the First National became one of the prominent banks in western Kansas by leading the area in data-processing conversion. Bob also developed a six-story bank building with rental offices and a private dining club.
While in Hays, Bob was an active member of the Kansas Bankers Association and chaired various KBA committees. He was a graduate of the American Bankers Association School of Automation and the ABA Commercial Lending School, as well as a graduate of the American Institute of Banking with a Graduate Certificate in Investments. He also was a member of a People to People delegation from Kansas banks to Eastern European countries.
Along the way, Bob taught economics and finance in the evening division at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri. He also taught numerous banking courses in both Hays and Great Bend, Kansas, and lectured at the School of Basic Banking in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was a member and past president of the Board of Trustees.
In Hays Bob was a member and past president of the Hays Rotary Club and served as treasurer and member of the Executive Committee of Hadley Memorial Hospital.
Bob left Hays in 1974 to become active in the Life Insurance Company of Kansas, headquartered in Wichita. He had organized the company’s Board of Directors in 1970 and served as board president before moving there to become active on a daily basis. In his 11 years the company became the top bank credit life insurance company in the state.
On December 5, 1975, he married the love of his life, Doris Leiker. Bob and Doris enjoyed 47 years of life together.
In 1978 the Life Insurance Company of Kansas was purchased by a corporation that also owned National Savings Life, and in 1984 that company transferred Bob to its headquarters in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as president and CEO.
Bob and Doris subsequently established homes in Destin, Florida and Leawood, Kansas, following his retirement.
Bob’s hobbies included snow skiing and golf. Bob was an avid tennis player, winning the 65 year and over Tennessee Doubles Championship! He enjoyed going out for a glass or two of wine with Doris and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, son Alec Richard and his beloved dog Archie.
Bob leaves behind his wife Doris, daughter Amy and husband, Bruce, five grandchildren: Alec, Jackson, Ben, Sam, and Kate, brothers-in-law Dick and wife Lydia, and Robert and wife, Jill and several nephews and a niece.
Funeral services will be at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City Mo. on June 9 with visitation at 1:30 followed by services at 2:00.
Bob’s family suggests Memorials to Great Plains SPCA ,5424 Antioch Dr., Merriam, KS 66202 or Leawood Fire Department Benevolent Fund, 14801 Mission Rd., Leawood, KS 66224.