Obituary of Robert Cales

Robert (Bob) Jackson Cales, M.D. died on Monday, 7, 2012. Bob was born on February 23, 1925 in Ralston, OK to John Oren and Cora Cales. He attended grade school and high school in Ralston where he was Valedictorian. After briefly attending Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma A & M) Bob joined the U.S. Navy where he was accepted into a program to complete his medical training. Bob completed his internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans and his residency in San Diego. He served in the Navy in the capacity of a thoracic surgeon on the USS Sanctuary during the Vietnam War. He also had the honor of being a part of the astronaut recovery teams for space missions' projects Gemini I & II. Bob also served overseas on assignments in Italy and Turkey. After retirement from the Navy he worked for both ARCO and BP Amoco as a medical director. Bob was a member of the Southside Rotary Club and attended First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, OK. While on assignment with the Navy in Italy Bob met his first wife, Mary, to whom he was married until her death in 1992. Bob married Minnie Jo Rice Leonard on September 11, 1993. Bob and Minnie Jo had both attended Ralston High School and were reintroduced by mutual friends after both of their spouses died approximately one month apart. They enjoyed the time they spent together travelling; including trips to Italy, China, Russia, Germany and Turkey. They also enjoyed their vacations a couple of time a year to St. Thomas. In addition to his parents and his first wife, Mary, Bob was preceded in death by two brothers; John and Dwain Cales. He is survived by his wife Minnie Jo; his step children, Sally Thompson and her husband Biff, Craig Leonard and his wife Denise, Brent Leonard and his wife Carol; step grandchildren, Jake Thompson and his wife Alicia, Chad Thompson, Brett Thompson, Stephanie Guglielmo and her husband Chris, Chris Leonard and his wife Rachel, Stacia Leonard and Sean Leonard; his step great grandchildren Sarah Gammill and Jayden Thompson. Bob is also survived by his cousin Jeanette Zvetan and her son John Zvetan and John's wife Jill and their daughter Maia; and numerous other cousins in Oklahoma. A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, 1115 S. Boulder Ave, Tulsa, OK. He will be laid to rest in the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the Beacon Class Scholarship Fund at First United Methodist Church (1115 S. Boulder, Tulsa, OK 74119) or to your favorite charity. Ninde Brookside ~ 918.742.5556 ~ www.ninde.com