After graduating from GSHS, Robert attended Junior College in Rangely and then Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. He majored in foreign languages. While attending Stanford, he stayed with a family in nearby Watsonville and was killed in an accidental shooting. His obituary states, "Last Friday evening Robert knocked on the door of a home, and when the 9 year old daughter of the family, opened the door. He playfully said, "Boo!" The child did not recognize him, became frightned, and pulled the trigger of a 38-caliber gun that she had taken with her when she answered the knock at the door. Robert was shot and killed, and the little girl was treated for shock after the accident."
Robert's mother died when he was 7 years old and he was raised by his grandmother, Mrs. John Duplice. He had been active in the Methodist Church and had been employed at Hasted's in Glenwood.