Richard Raymond Robert Although born in Akron in 1923, Dick ‘Robbie’ Robert lived his early formative years in Gadsden, Alabama. It was at the Gadsden Country Club that his skill and lifelong passion for golf began, seeing him win numerous awards in the 1930’s throughout the state of Alabama. After graduating from Auburn University in 1943 with a BSc in Engineering, he was immediately called to the Army Air Corps to various sites including Yale for aviation training on B-25 planes. Just before he took off, he married ‘the love of my life’ Dorothy Goodwin and arrived in the Philippines as WWII drew to a close. A year later, 1st Lieutenant Robert returned to the States and soon, following in his father’s footsteps, started his 40-year career with Goodyear Tire & Rubber and eventually settled in Stow, Ohio. As a management engineer, he worked with Goodyear teams implementing the IBM computer systems, travelling around the world as an efficiency expert, and serving on Ronald Reagan’s The Grace Commission, The President’s Private Sector Survey on Cost Control.
Together he and Dottie raised five children. As an active member of Holy Family Parish, Dick was involved with many activities including leading Boy Scout Troop 177 for many years. Camping trips to Manitoc, Menioke, and other local camps as well as Philmont in New Mexico figured in his fond memories. His achievement of the Silver Beaver BSA award and the Youth Service Award from the Touchdown Club, are testament to his 50-year plus commitment and contribution to the Boy Scouts.
Robbie retired from Goodyear in 1986, joined the ‘snowbird’ annual migration movement, eventually downsized and moved to Uniontown joining Holy Spirit Parish. He celebrated his 70th Wedding Anniversary with Dottie and continued to play golf until illness intervened at the age of 92. More recently he had moved to Indianapolis, IN. where in 2019 he proudly participated in the USA Honor Flight, a locally sponsored national trip to Washington DC to honor war veterans. He is survived by his children Rick Robert, Kathryn Petrenko, Mary Robert-Dickerson (John), Larry Robert (Suzanne), Julie Burns (Robert), 4 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the many caregivers who took care of Dick. Especially, Emily, Diego, Jackie, Jessica, Tim, Amber and Brenda. Special thanks to the Hospice team at Paradigm Health who made all of our last moments peaceful.
Calling hours will be at Dunn-Quigley Funeral Home in Stow on Thursday, 10th March from 4-7PM and services at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Stow on Friday, 11th March at 11:30. Internment will follow at Northlawn Memorial Gardens.
THE FUNERAL MASS WILL BE LIVE STREAMED AT: https://youtu.be/Y3TMCJbAB6I