Bobby F. Harshaw

Bobby F. Harshaw, 70, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, September 8, 2017 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, September 16, 2017, at the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium. Family will meet with friends from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Friday, September 15, 2017, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Bob was born July 1, 1947, in Kilgore, Texas, the son of Estle “Corky” and Billie Jean (McCarty) Harshaw. He grew up in Kilgore moving in 1952 to Madison, Kansas. In 1963, Bob moved to El Dorado, Kansas and 1968 to Kansas City. In 1983, Bob moved to Ottawa, where he made his home until his death. He attended kindergarten through 10th grade in Madison and his junior and senior years of high school in El Dorado. Bob continued his education at Kansas State University where he played football and later attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Bob was united in marriage to Karen Adams July 2, 1968 in Hutchinson, Kansas. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his two children, Kishawn Ferguson and husband Bryan of Ottawa, and Aaron Harshaw and wife Sheri also of Ottawa; six grandchildren, Kord and Brynn Ferguson, Austin, Spencer, Bobby and Emma Harshaw; sister-in-law, Jo Harshaw; and nephew, Eric Harshaw. He was preceded in death by his parents, Estle and Billie Harshaw; and brother, Gary Harshaw. Prior to 1983, when Bob moved with his family to Ottawa, he found himself enjoying diverse vocational interests ranging from barter banking and government contracting to owning a rare coin & fine jewelry store on the Plaza in downtown Kansas City. As an Ottawa resident, his businessman's skills continued to find outlets as the General Manager for Bob White Motors and owning the Fitcorp Family Fitness Center in downtown Ottawa. Later, at Central Fiber Corporation in Wellsville where he worked with co-owner and dear friend John Pollock, Bob helped to develop products made from recycled newspapers and magazines including a hydro seeding product called Spray Sod. Bob loved new product development and the business of invention. His entrepreneurial spirit was in full force when he founded Harshaw Research Inc. in Ottawa; assisting individual inventors and businesses with their intellectual property and new technology until he retired in 2003. He was a member of the Grace Gospel Church where his son, Aaron is the pastor. Bob enjoyed anything his grandkids were involved in and church related activities. The family suggests memorial contributions to Grace Gospel Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Bob’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com