Robert M. Hibsch, Veteran of WWII Veteran (Ancestor #34)

This is another article for the series "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks", a challenge by Amy Johnson Crow on No Story Too Small.

Robert M. Hibsch
7 Dec 1923 - 28 Sep 2014

Another veteran of America’s Great War has died.  Robert M. Hibsch died 28 September 2014 in Sacramento, Sacramento County, California. He was 90 years old.  The eldest son of Alba W. Hibsch and Ethel May Kendall Hibsch was born 7 Dec 1923 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California.   He was a 1941 graduate of Covina High School in Covina, Los Angeles County, California, and married Betty E. Hutson in 1946 following his military discharge.  He was my father.

At the time he entered the Army, he worked as a machinist at a tool factory. On his Separation Qualification Record (click to enlarge images), he provided the following occupational information:

Source: Separation Qualification Record excerpt, WD AGO Form 100

Private First Class Robert Hibsch served as a Military Policeman with the 417th Military Police Escort Guard Company from 8 Feb 1943 until his separation on 5 Feb, 1946 at Fort MacArthur, Los Angeles County, California.  He served in England and France. He was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, Euro-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Campaign Star for Northern France, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, and the Army Marksmanship Badge.  A description of his military occupation, shown below, was excerpted from his Separation Qualification Record;

Source: Separation Qualification Record excerpt, WD AGO Form 100

Source: Covina Argus Newspaper, Feb 1946; newspapers.com

After the military, he worked as a machinist in Monrovia, Los Angeles County, California until 1959. In 1960-61, the family lived in Williams, Colusa County, California on the 200+ acre Hibsch Family Ranch owned by his aunt and uncle.  Robert worked in a "Flying A" gas station in Williams and another one when the family moved to Sacramento.  In 1962, he became an owner of a 76 Union Oil gas station located at Florin Road and Lindale Drive. Later, he sold that station and bought the 76 Union Oil station at Florin Road and East Parkway.  In total, he probably worked for 76 Union Oil Company for 40+ years. His stations would be called “old school” today as they offered windshield cleaning, airing the tires, checking oil/water and handing out Green and Blue Chip Stamps, most of which are rare today.  His wife was the bookkeeper and his sons worked at the stations during their high school and college days.

Robert is survived by a brother, three children, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  He will be honored with a military burial at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, San Joaquin County, California.