Robert Van Nest Traphagen met His Savior and Lord on the evening of September 10, 2026. He was born on June 9, 1934, to Parks Van Nest Traphagen and Mary S. Traphagen in Geneva, New York. He was welcomed by three older siblings.

Robert, known by most as Bob, was a faithful and loving gentleman with a generous servant’s heart. He gave his all in ministry to his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.

In addition to Bob’s loyalty to the Lord, his family, and his friends, he served a twenty-year career in the United States Air Force. His homeland posts were New York, Fort Worth, Michigan, Illinois, California, and New Mexico. Bob served remote assignments in the Azores, Korea, and Thailand. His stint in Thailand took him from his wife and children for ten months.

His second career was at Bell Helicopter, where he worked on the V-22 Osprey.

It was Bob’s joy to serve in churches as a greeter, a choir member, a deacon, and an elder. As a prayer warrior, he faithfully gathered at “Monday with the Master,” a weekly prayer ministry at Christ Chapel. Thursday mornings were reserved for Band of Brothers Bible Study!

Among his para-church ministries were a variety of prison ministries, where he had the opportunity to mentor many young men. He always loved to serve his community by being part of the Crestwood Code Blue Patrol.

His hobbies included model trains and monthly meetings with the Long Star Flyers, especially enjoying the train shows!

He is preceded in death by his parents, Parks and Mary Traphagen; his siblings, Doris Traphagen; James Traphagen and wife, Ann; and Berniece Pettit and husband, Dick; and by his infant son, Stephen Van Nest Traphagen.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Traphagen; his daughter and her husband, Janis and Charles Felts of Benbrook, TX; his son and his wife, Jerry and Michelle Traphagen of Vancouver, Washington; his grandchildren, Jeremy and Elizabeth Joy Bartlow of Midlothian, TX; Emily Joy Atwood and her husband, Preston, of Memphis, TN; Evie Joy Felts of Mancos, CO; Steven Van Nest Traphagen of Waterford, Virginia; Zachary Allen Traphagen of Vancouver, WA; Julianna Grace Traphagen of Vancouver, WA; and his seventeen great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life, followed by a visitation, is planned at Christ Chapel Bible Church in the Oak Room on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 10:30 AM.

His military honors will be rendered on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM at DFW National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts to Christ Chapel Bible Church, 3801 Birchman Ave., Fort Worth, Texas.