Robert Lee McCarty, Jr. (“Bob”), age 87 of Desoto, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 surrounded by his beloved family.

Bob was born on February 24, 1939 in Fort Dodge, Iowa and was the only son of Vivian Adeline Kalahar McCarty and Robert Lloyd McCarty.  Bob grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and was a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School.  Bob attended Iowa State University before embarking on a 25-year career with Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company (now Pirelli Tire Corporation).  Bob also lived in Azle and Allen, Texas as well as Vinings, Georgia before settling into retirement in Desoto, Kansas.

Bob is survived by his three children:  Kelly Sue McCarty Sciachitano, Timothy Michael McCarty and Jennifer Kathleen McCarty Young.  Bob was the proud grandfather of 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  Bob also leaves behind a large number of friends as he rarely met a stranger and extended kindness towards all.

Bob will be remembered as a proud and loving family man with a lifelong interest in military war history, particularly the Civil War and World War II.  Upon retirement and his move to Desoto, Bob immersed himself in World War I history and was a 10-year volunteer at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri.

In his youth, Bob won many awards as a keen marble shooter.  Bob also loved to tinker with cars and thoroughly enjoyed drag-racing in 1950’s Des Moines, Iowa with a prized Ford Model A Coupe.  Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed collecting military miniatures and in his later years was an avid collector of classic Marklin trains.  Bob enjoyed traveling around the world, especially trips to Germany in a never-ending search for vintage Marklin train sets and ephemera.  Bob was a past president of the North American Chapter of the Marklin Train Club and maintained a meticulous, ever-growing Marklin train village complete with lighted streets, buildings, and steam whistles.

At this time, no immediate burial service is planned.  Bob’s family will hold a celebration of his life at a later date.  Porter Funeral Home is assisting the McCarty family with Bob’s arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, Bob’s family kindly requests a donation to the National World War I Memorial and Museum in his honor.  Donation information can be found at give.theworldwar.org.