Obituary of Robert Norman Christensen

Robert N Christensen, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, teacher, and coach passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 30th.  He was 92. Bob was born on May 8, 1928 in Warren, Pennsylvania to Norman and Anna Huber Christensen.  He grew up in Glade Township where he spent time on his grandparent’s farm and trapped and hunted with his older brother Elmer and cousins.  Since he was too young to join the military when he graduated high school in 1945, he went to Army Specialized Training at Virginia Military Institute before joining the US Air Force.  In the Air Force he was a flight navigator and radar technician.  While stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, he worked on the radar for President Truman's aircraft.

After the service, Bob enrolled at Edinboro State Teachers College where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education.  He also met his future wife Carol Peterson at Jolley’s Drug Store and they married September 1, 1951.  After graduating, he taught one year in Youngstown, Pennsylvania. They arrived in Port Allegany in 1953 where he taught Art for all 12 grades and  traveled to Brooklynside, Roulette, Turtlepoint, Liberty Township and Arnold Ave schools. Bob earned his Ed. Specialist Degree from Penn State University.  Bob thought children should have paper, crayons, paints and clay to use whenever they wanted, not just for art class. Not everyone has the same talent but each has their own talent. Not everyone can make masterpieces but everyone can put forth an effort.  Much of teaching needs to look at effort and not the final product.

He spent time coaching football and had two back to back undefeated seasons in 1968 and 1969.  Bob loved to laugh.  He could remember jokes and reveled in the delivery employing many different accents. I think his favorite place to be was outside maybe that’s why he always had a dog.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Elmer Christensen; his sister, Marjorie Schweitzer Anderson.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Carol, his children, Helen Christensen of Port Allegany, Jane (Chuck) Chaffee of Spokane, Washington, Eric Christensen of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Beth (Gary) Kinghorn of El Dorado Hills, California, ten grandchildren Amaryah Dellinger, Rachel Mangel, Jessica Saunders, Leighann Chaffee, David Chaffee, Cory Christensen, Alex Christensen, Sarah Kinghorn, Melissa Kinghorn, Collin Kinghorn, and 5 great grandchildren with 2 more arriving in 2021. He is also survived by one sister Anne (Rod) McCullough and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am Saturday January 2, 2021 in Fairview Cemetery with the Rev. J T Madison officiating. Mask are required.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes Inc., Port Allegany, PA