Robert Talbot Trotter
Date of Birth: June 21, 1921
Place of Birth: Palmyra, Douglas Co., Kansas
Father and Mother’s Names: Alexander George Trotter and Harriet G. (Talbot) Trotter
Spouse and Children’s Names: Virginia Fern (Yapp) Trotter (wife), Robert Talbot Trotter, Jr. (son).
Date Entered Service: June 18, 1942 from Fort Riley, Kansas.
Service Branch: Navy Reserves
Rank/Specialty: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Service ID: 0-300861
Division/Company/Unit info: Stationed on (OAG) Gasoline Tanker.
Riley Connection: Entered service from Fort Riley and attended K-State in Manhattan, Kansas.
Date of Death (and Age): September 14, 1945 DNB (Deceased Non-Battle) (age 24)
Place of Death: Died in plane crash near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Coomonwealth.
Grave Location: Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City, Douglas Co., Kansas.
Bio: Robert Talbot Trotter, Sr. was born on June 21, 1921 in Palmyra, Kansas to Alexander George "Alex" Trotter and Harriet Georgina (Talbot) Trotter. He moved to Topeka and then to Manhattan, Kansas while still a young boy. He attended Kansas State College in Manhattan and soon afterwards enlisted into the Navy from Fort Riley. He was then married to Virginia Fern Yapp. Robert was sent to serve as a Navy Pilot in Saipan. Twelve days after the official end to WWII, Robert's plane crashed off the coast of Saipan. Robert did not survive. His remains were brought back to Kansas and were re-interred in the Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City, Kansas near his parents in 1948. Circumstances of his plane crash have yet to be found. His wife, Virginia, was 3 months pregnant at the time of Robert's death and 6 months afterwards, had a child named Robert Talbot Trotter, Jr. Virginia became a very important pioneer involving women in education. Robert Talbot Trotter, Jr. followed his mother into the academics field becoming a professor of anthropology.
Robert's widow, Virginia, lived at 211 Nth Juliette Ave. in Manhattan, Kansas on June 15, 1948.
