Robert Emory Oswald

Bob was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on August 12, 1936, to Iva and Robert Oswald. An early achiever, he was active in the Boy Scouts and proudly earned the rank of Eagle Scout. His academic and leadership abilities led him to Northwestern University’s School of Business, where he attended on scholarship and served as president of Acacia Fraternity.

It was at Northwestern that Bob met the love of his life, Anne Woolverton. Together they built a life and raised three daughters in South Bend, Indiana. His career in the restaurant equipment manufacturing industry took him across the country—often combining business with his love of food by visiting restaurant kitchens after a good meal.

Bob embraced life with energy and curiosity. He enjoyed golf, tennis, platform tennis, sailing, fishing, and fantasy football. A natural intellectual, he was an early adopter of technology, a voracious reader, puzzle solver, and game enthusiast. His love of music, especially jazz, was well known, and he rarely missed an opportunity to attend a live performance.

Family was the cornerstone of Bob’s life. He cultivated deep, individual relationships with each of his daughters and grandchildren, and his family gatherings were joyous, laughter-filled events.

For the past eight years, Bob and Anne made their home at the Vi at Grayhawk in Scottsdale, Arizona, where they formed many close friendships. A man of spirit and resilience, Bob faced Parkinson’s disease with characteristic determination—participating in boxing, physical therapy, speech therapy, and exercise classes. He was a member of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church and served as a docent at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. One of the great joys of his week was "Let’s Talk Sports," a men’s group he founded that met on Saturday mornings.

Bob is survived by his wife, Anne; his brother, Peter Oswald (Doris) of Wescosville, PA; daughters Anne Jarrett (David) of Virginia Beach, VA, Jane Head (Nelson) of Evanston, IL and Amy Robertson of Cortes Island, BC; eight grandchildren—Kathleen, Amy, Margaret, Johanna, Drew, Satchel, Molly, and Terra—and five great-grandchildren.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff and caregivers at the Vi and Hospice of the Valley for their kindness, care, and compassion. A celebration of life will be held on August 8, 2025 at 11:00 am followed by a reception at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, 25150 North Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ.

To honor Bob’s memory, donations may be made to Parkinson's research, Hospice of the Valley, or Western Spirit Museum of the West.