The pages contained  within this site relating to Robert and Virginia best summarizes the spirit by which this site attempts to capture the very generous and loving natures of Robert and Virginia Greenlease. And the pages relating to Bobby will be somewhat longer because of the terrible and sad tragedy that was to befall him. Even though as indicated earlier, this site will not focus on the finer details relating to Bobby’s passing. Bobby’s siblings: his sister Virginia Sue, and his step-brother Paul; their pages in this site will perhaps be briefer in nature, as sadly, they did not live long or lengthy lives. Yet, both are so much a part of this story, and this site will include them, and once more relevant details for both are being compiled for inclusion.

It cannot ever be said that Robert Greenlease was the least bit complicated, because he was really and genuinely, as they say today, “the real deal!” Even when he started the Central Automobile and Livery Company he was ahead of his time, because he knew this rental car business was ideally suited for people exploring Kansas City’s newly expanded park and boulevard system like Ward Parkway and Meyer Boulevard, and The Paseo and even Cliff Drive, and this enterprise helped many people to experience their first motor drives. People who had not yet invested in the purchase of an automobile. He wasn’t an unreasonable man and he always tried to help people whenever possible. Robert was so completely honest. He believed a man’s word and his handshake was his sacred bond. He was a genuine titan in the automobile industry and he never was sidetracked when he began his very long association with Cadillac in 1908, and then merged with General Motors. The first Cadillac he sold was a one-cylinder four-seat model priced at $800 that would go 30 miles per hour. He expanded his automobile businesses to cover a huge territory in the United States. He was fiercely loyal to his Cadillac business associates and he allowed people to move forward from within his business operations. In November of 1967, James M. Roche, GM Chairman, and a group of top company executives, came to Kansas City to bestow many honors on Robert as the “senior” of the company’s 14,000 dealers in the United States. Robert was completely fair and forthright and honest with everyone, and he managed always to resolve disagreements in such a mannerly  way. He was always a gentleman, and he always left all entities satisfied, and yet assured of his fair, honest, and very kind treatment.

The tragic loss of his little Bobby left such a profound shadow on Robert, and, of course, he never regretted a single moment he had shared with his beloved son. He was very close to his children. He helped Paul Robert Greenlease establish his own Cadillac dealership at 50th and Main Street in Kansas City, known as Paul Greenlease Cadillac, and he was always quite proud of Paul’s great success selling Cadillac’s. Robert always missed his first son Paul who had passed from this life in 1964 at the age of 47; just five years before Robert passed away.

Robert understood the sadness his daughter Virginia Sue endured over the tragic loss of her younger brother Bobby. He was a great comfort for her and she turned to him when she needed his fatherly love and advice. Robert knew that his daughter wanted to find joy and happiness. And perhaps to some extend she attained happiness, but the loss of Bobby seemed to really create a pall over much of her life, and she did not live a long life, as she passed away in 1984 when she was only 43; some fifteen years after Robert had passed away.

The love coming from his beloved Virginia always sustained Robert. Both of them lived as a loving team and together they established so many wonderful philanthropy and charitable deeds all coming as a result of their great wealth and their sincere heartfelt desire to help and assist others. Robert and Virginia Greenlease were most certainly two of the most generous people in the circle of philanthropy and charitable giving in the history of Kansas City. Both of them were generous to a fault. Their love for others and each other, and their desire to create so many worthy gifts to charities and other worthy entities are unrivaled anywhere! It is likely the tragedy of Bobby’s loss sparked some of their renowned philanthropy and charitable giving. They both were most generous prior to the loss of Bobby. Both Robert and Virginia continued on the path of generosity for the remainder of each of their respective lives; literally to the very end of their lives, and even beyond, and to this very day their philanthropy continues!

Virginia’s strong and abiding Roman Catholic Faith inspired Robert and he affirmed her giving to so many Catholic charities. Robert was not a Roman Catholic, but his life was a testimony to his love for God, and the power of God’s love illuminated very brightly through him, and he never refused anyone who came to him in need of things he could, and then he would provide. Robert knows God all right!  And God knows Robert! The following New Testament verse  from the Book of James can easy apply to Robert Greenlease:                                                                     “For just as a body without a Spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”                                                                                                                                                                                James 2:26.