7/22/1924 - 1/14/2015

Robert (Bob) Hilding Christie, passed away on January 14, 2015. He was born July 22, 1924 to James and Carrie Christie.  He served on active duty during WWII while assigned to the 3181st Signal Service, and was stationed in Okinowa.  He was a history teacher at Omaha South High School for over 30 years, and served as President of both OEA and NSEA during his tenure with OPS.  Upon retirement in the late 80's he moved with his wife and son, Wanda and Bobby to their home on Tablerock Lake, near Branson, Mo.  He was active in the Retired Teachers Association of Missouri.  He also was a member of both the VFW and American Legion.

Bob was preceded in death by his son, Robert Stewart Christie and his wife, Wanda White Christie.

He is survived by his nieces: Jennifer Harris (Dennis) of Seattle and Julie Johnson (Mark) of Minneapolis, 5 grandnieces, 3 great- grandnieces, and several cousins.

Visitation will be Monday, January, 19, 2015 in Greenlawn Funeral Home South from 6-8 p.m.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday, January 21, 2015 in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Omaha, NE at 10 a.m. with burial to follow.

Robert joined NSEA in his first year of teaching in 1949.  By the mid-1960's, he had been a president of NSEA District II, had served two terms on the NSEA Board of Directors, and was president of the Omaha Education Association.  In 1970, he was elected president of NSEA.  If not a record, his 65-plus years of membership certainly approached a record for membership longevity.

A 1942 graduate of Omaha North High School, Christie served for three years in WWII and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Omaha in 1949 and a master's degree in 1953.  He immediately signed on to teach at Omaha South and later also taught part-time at the University of Omaha.

Christie was a well-known figure at NSEA Delegate Assemblies, NEA Representative Assemblies and NSEA's Summer Leadership Conference.