Robert Alvin Rodamer

Bob was born in Springs, Pennsylvania on March 10, 1936, and spent his childhood there. He graduated from High School in nearby Salisbury in 1954. After graduation Bob, and eight other classmates, enlisted in the Air Force. During his tour Bob was stationed in Washington, Texas, and Guam, among other bases. After his discharge Bob made his way to Cape Canaveral, Florida to see what the space business was all about and ended up going to work for Martin Company as an Electrical Technician. While working for Martin, Bob started flight training under the GI Bill with hopes of getting in with one of the airlines.

In 1959 he met Beth, and they were married on February 14, 1960, and to this marriage two children were born, Jarrod in 1970, and Erika in 1972.

While still working for Martin, Bob finished flight training but there were no offers from the airlines forthcoming, so he took up driving race cars. He drove, and another Martin employee, Ken Jeffers, was the mechanic. They hooked up with George Batchelor from Miami who owned a small airline and was willing to sponsor two cars. Bob drove one, George drove the other, and Ken kept both running. Bob worked his way up through the ranks and ended up as an Assistant Test Conductor. It was at this time, 1988, that he was diagnosed with melanoma, which had spread into his lymph nodes, and they gave him six months to live. Bob entered an experimental program with Duke University with four others and this, along with him not eating anything that was possibly a carcinogen, let him beat the cancer. After his treatments were over, he decided to retire and enjoy life, and one of the first things he did was to buy a new 1988 Porsche 911. His retirement was short lived and soon he was back on the Titan program working for the Test Conductor’s office as Pad Control.

About this time Bob started collecting cars and building a hot rod. He and Dick Olson, another Martin employee, and body man Mark McNichols, built his 1934 Ford hot rod, and restored Dick’s 1963 Chevy SS convertible in Bob’s backyard. They were so proud that they decided to host a BBQ to show off their cars and invited several others with old cars to join them. This was the first of their Old Car BBQs, held for the first several years in Bob’s grove and later KARS Park, and continued for twenty years and sometimes drawing 125-150 show cars. During this time Bob’s friend Bill Callahan helped him with his numerous other projects such as restoring motorcycles, building a sign for his Bent Arrow Racing business, building a huge wooden American flag, and the maintenance on his property.

Beth passed on December 21, 2020, and Bob missed her terribly. Bob is survived by his son Jarrod and his wife Terri of Merritt Island, Florida, his daughter Erika of Orlando, Florida, and three grandchildren, Nicholas Rodamer, Sydney Hahn, and Rebecca Hahn.

In keeping with Bob’s wishes there will be no memorial services other than the military ceremony at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Mims to take place on Thursday, February 22 at 10:00 am.

To quote Bob: “I’ve lost the battle of death but won the war of life.”

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wyliebaxleymerrittisland.com for the Rodamer family.