Argent, Rev. Robert W. Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Thursday, September 15, 2022.
Born August 25, 1929 to the late Samuel and Elizabeth (nee Moeller) Argent; brother of John A. (the late Kathleen) Argent, the late Grace, Richard J. (Mary Lee) and the late Donald E. (Dorothy) Argent; our beloved uncle, great-uncle, great-great uncle, cousin, fellow priest and friend of many.
Robert graduated from St. Stephen Protomartyr Elementary School, the Cathedral Latin School, St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, Kenrick Seminary and St. Louis University where he earned a Masters Degree in History and Education.
He was ordained March 26th, 1955 by Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter
After Ordination, his many Parochial assignments throughout his 67 years as a Priest include: Bishop DuBourg High School where he was a teacher and administrator for 15 years. The parishes in which he served were: St. Jerome in Bissell Hills, St. Gabriel the Archangel, St. Paul in Fenton, St. Justin in Sunset Hills, Annunciation in Webster Groves; and in 1972 he was appointed Pastor of St. Matthias, in 1981 Pastor of All Saints in St. Peters; in 1987 Pastor of St. Gertrude Parish in Krakow. In 1992 he became a Senior Priest at Resurrection and for 1 year at St. Margarets. He retired to Regina Cleri in 2005.
Visitation Tuesday, September 20, 9 a.m. until Mass 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthias Church, 796 Buckley Rd. (63125). Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery.
I am so grateful that I was able to spend some time with Fr. Bob on his Birthday which was on August 25th! His birthday was very easy to remember since August 25th is also the Feast of St. Louis, patron of our city! Also it would always remind me that there was just 4 short months till Christmas!
I always had to LOOK UP to Fr Bob! I have shrunk to about 5 ft 4 in since coming to Regina Cleri ,but he did no seem to shrink at all! Rather he seemed to me to keep getting taller!
He claimed he had a club foot which he probably did have. However it seemed to me that he committed s few venial sins by bragging about his One Thousand dollar custom made shoes while I walked over to Walmart to buy $25 shoes on the clearance rack!
His favorite expression was the word “WOW”! I hope by now he has already experienced more than a Trillion WOWS!
I really miss him! During our last days at Regina Cleri we both moved down to the 1st floor & were across the hall from one another!
My consolation is that in not too distant future, (compared to the nearly 74 years I have been here on earth), I hope to be with HIM along with Msgr. Jerome J. Buchheit & Bishop Morgan Casey, both of whom had also lived at Regina Cleri as well as at Mother of Good Counsel home where I currently live. Fr. Argent spent his last several months at Mary Queen and Mother Home.
I wish Fr Argent would have been more like Queen Elizabeth & had several days for people to come by and pay their respect, but he was just a simple humble priest!
When I was a Deacon at St. Simon I met Fr. Bob’s brother Jack who, along with his family, had been selected to listen carefully to any of my homilies they happened to hear while attending Mass & send in a written report which I believe also went to the Pastor & possibly the Archbishop! When I met with Jack Argent and his family they pointed out a special photo that was hanging in a prominent place. It was a nice unprofessional candid photo! If I remember correctly, I believe he may have had a Rosary in one hand but a HAMMER in the other hand! Fr. Bob was quite the handyman! It would not surprise me if there would be a hammer in his casket along with his Rosary!
Where he has gone I hope to follow! Soon, but not too soon! (Here where I am living, it is not uncommon for ladies to live beyond 100 years old but much less likely that a man would celebrate his 100th Birthday while still alive. I can’t remember who currently was the oldest priest but if I am not mistaken Fr. Bob was in the top 5!
Goodbye Fr. Bob! Fr. Dave Novak
I am so grateful that I was able to spend some time with Fr. Bob on his Birthday which was on August 25th! His birthday was very easy to remember since August 25th is also the Feast of St. Louis, patron of our city! Also it would always remind me that there was just 4 short months till Christmas!
I always had to LOOK UP to Fr Bob! I have shrunk to about 5 ft 4 in since coming to Regina Cleri ,but he did no seem to shrink at all! Rather he seemed to me to keep getting taller!
He claimed he had a club foot which he probably did have. However it seemed to me that he committed s few venial sins by bragging about his One Thousand dollar custom made shoes while I walked over to Walmart to buy $25 shoes on the clearance rack!
His favorite expression was the word “WOW”! I hope by now he has already experienced more than a Trillion WOWS!
I really miss him! During our last days at Regina Cleri we both moved down to the 1st floor & were across the hall from one another!
My consolation is that in not too distant future, (compared to the nearly 74 years I have been here on earth), I hope to be with HIM along with Msgr. Jerome J. Buchheit & Bishop Morgan Casey, both of whom had also lived at Regina Cleri as well as at Mother of Good Counsel home where I currently live. Fr. Argent spent his last several months at Mary Queen and Mother Home.
I wish Fr Argent would have been more like Queen Elizabeth & had several days for people to come by and pay their respect, but he was just a simple humble priest!
When I was a Deacon at St. Simon I met Fr. Bob’s brother Jack who, along with his family, had been selected to listen carefully to any of my homilies they happened to hear while attending Mass & send in a written report which I believe also went to the Pastor & possibly the Archbishop! When I met with Jack Argent and his family they pointed out a special photo that was hanging in a prominent place. It was a nice unprofessional candid photo! If I remember correctly, I believe he may have had a Rosary in one hand but a HAMMER in the other hand! Fr. Bob was quite the handyman! It would not surprise me if there would be a hammer in his casket along with his Rosary!
Where he has gone I hope to follow! Soon, but not too soon! (Here where I am living, it is not uncommon for ladies to live beyond 100 years old but much less likely that a man would celebrate his 100th Birthday while still alive. I can’t remember who currently was the oldest priest but if I am not mistaken Fr. Bob was in the top 5!
Goodbye Fr. Bob! Fr. Dave Novak
I was named Robert after my uncle, Father Bob. He always called me his ‘namesake’. He baptized all of us children and married my wife and I almost 42 years ago at his old stomping ground of St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church. My memories of Father Bob include summer days when he taught all of us children how to swim at his clubhouse pool, along with family bar-b-ques, sleepovers and hayrides on his tractor. We learned construction tips from him when he, my dad and uncles helped to build his new clubhouse. I will always remember looking up at my uncle’s ordination photo which rested on the mantel in my grandparent’s house. It inspired me to think of joining the priesthood, however, I thought two Father Bob’s would be one too many. He shared many stories of his love for soccer, which he played in his earlier years. We enjoyed his company at many family holidays and events, however, he always seemed to leave early. He was a blessed, humble man who was set-in-his-ways. Father Bob loved to assemble jigsaw puzzles and we are lucky enough to have 2 lighted Christmas puzzles of his. He was very much loved and will be greatly missed!
I was named Robert after my uncle, Father Bob. He always called me his ‘namesake’. He baptized all of us children and married my wife and I almost 42 years ago at his old stomping ground of St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church. My memories of Father Bob include summer days when he taught all of us children how to swim at his clubhouse pool, along with family bar-b-ques, sleepovers and hayrides on his tractor. We learned construction tips from him when he, my dad and uncles helped to build his new clubhouse. I will always remember looking up at my uncle’s ordination photo which rested on the mantel in my grandparent’s house. It inspired me to think of joining the priesthood, however, I thought two Father Bob’s would be one too many. He shared many stories of his love for soccer, which he played in his earlier years. We enjoyed his company at many family holidays and events, however, he always seemed to leave early. He was a blessed, humble man who was set-in-his-ways. Father Bob loved to assemble jigsaw puzzles and we are lucky enough to have 2 lighted Christmas puzzles of his. He was very much loved and will be greatly missed!
So sorry for your loss. Praying for comfort
So sorry for your loss. Praying for comfort
My condolences to the Argent family. I lived on Wanda from early 1940s until 1953. We had so much fun there. My name is Jane, and Jack I think remembered me when we spoke at the funeral. It was such a beautiful service and to be honored to have Archbishop conduct it. So special to see all the priests honor Father Bob, so nice to meet the family and bring back so many wonderful memories. Jane Shaw Lanser
My condolences to the Argent family. I lived on Wanda from early 1940s until 1953. We had so much fun there. My name is Jane, and Jack I think remembered me when we spoke at the funeral. It was such a beautiful service and to be honored to have Archbishop conduct it. So special to see all the priests honor Father Bob, so nice to meet the family and bring back so many wonderful memories. Jane Shaw Lanser