Robert Shank’s common sense brought him long life. Had Shank continued to live the barnstorming lifestyle of his peers, he probably would not have lived to see 1930, much less 1968. After many years of running Bob Shank Airport, he retired to a farmhouse constructed on the airport's grounds. After his retirement, Shank remained an aviation enthusiast, keeping up with the Airmail Pioneers, operating and managing his airport, and continuing to fly until shortly before his death in 1968.