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Robert R. King Tiffin, OH QCWA # 32175 |
Robert King, 95, passed away the morning of Sunday, April 29, 2018, at St. Francis Home, surrounded by his family.Bob was born at 186 Circular St., Tiffin, Feb. 21, 1923, to Ray and Ida King.He is survived by his son, Steve; a daughter-in-law, Amy; two grandsons, Alex and Zach of Powell; a daughter, Beverly Sheridan; a son-in-law, Gary of Seattle, Washington; and his dear companion, Shirley Egbert.Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Marilynn (2004), and a daughter, Constance (2012).
He worked at National Machinery while in high school, and continued there after his graduation from Tiffin Columbian in 1940. Bob received a deferment from military service during the early years of World War II. He joined the Navy in 1944, and served our country as an aircraft machinists mate on the USS Bunker Hill in the Pacific theater. Bob was aboard the carrier when she was hit by kamikazes May 11, 1945. Were it not for a wisdom tooth that was to be pulled that morning, he may have been one of the 393 American sailors who were killed.Bob returned to Tiffin after the war, and studied at Heidelberg College for a year, then transferred to Purdue University.
He met his wife, Marilynn, at Purdue, and they were married Sept. 4, 1949. Bob received his degree in mechanical engineering in 1950. He returned to Tiffin, and National Machinery for a short time, before moving to Hudson, New York, to work for V&O Press. Bob and Marilynn relocated to Lakewood in 1953, and started Robert R. King Co. and PACCO (Power and Control Components Co). He held several patents on marine propulsion controls. King Co. controls were on many of the Great Lakes tug boats.
In addition to his company, he was a manufacturer's representative for Wichita Clutch Co., Hamilton Gear and Cooper Weymouth. In 1967, the family returned to Tiffin, building a new house on Tyber Road, next door to Bob's shop. He retired in 1978 at 55 and stayed busy pursuing his many passions.Bob was an avid boater, and proudly served in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary at Marblehead station in the 1990s. While in junior high, he offered 10 cent boat rides on the creek at Meadowbrook Park. His first "big" boat was a small cabin cruiser moored at the Catawba Island Club. Bob and Marilynn purchased a lot on Catawba's West Harbor in 1956, where he and his dad built a cottage.
The King family enjoyed many summer weekends at the lake. Bob continued boating into his 90s, and thanks to good friends, Tom and Margaret Stimmel, was able to visit the cottage in the last weeks of his life.Bob's love affair with automobiles was legendary. He bought a new car almost every year, and though he lost count, it is fair to say that Bob owned at least 50 vehicles during his lifetime. Cadillacs were preferred, although he also owned two Corvettes and an MG TD.Bob was a musician, playing tenor sax and clarinet. He played big band music with the Melodiers, one of Bob Friedman's bands, as well as several dance bands while in the Navy.
Bob was an amateur pilot, Cessna 172 owner and model airplane enthusiast. He was a HAM radio operator (call sign: WD8KRG) and enjoyed talking with other HAMs around the world. Bob was active with the Tiffin Columbian Boosters Club, filming TC's football and basketball games for many years. He chaired Tiffin's "Celebration '76," a commemoration of the bicentennial of our country. More recently, he served as president of the Greenlawn Cemetery board.
In 2017, he was honored for 70 plus years as a Free Mason.Bob's family thanks the staff at St. Francis Home for their care and compassion over the last several years, as well as Margaret and Tom Stimmel, whose assistance was invaluable.Greenlawn Cemetery