Robert E Detweiler

Surrounded by family and friends, Robert Ellsworth Detweiler, 87, of Akron joined his beloved wife, Eleanor, of nearly 60 years in heaven on June 29, 2015. “RED” or Bob, as he’s known to his family and friends was born in Lima, Ohio on September 4, 1927. The eldest of eight children, he grew up during the Great Depression that left an indelible impression on him to work hard and save. He was proud to be a paternal descendant of the Amish and maternal descendant of William Jennings Bryan, a Presidential candidate and Head of the State Department.

Even before high school, Bob was passionate about politics recalling at the age of 14 that he’d have a lifelong interest in US government. He enjoyed writing opinion pieces and debating for hours over current events with relatives and friends even those with opposing views. He was instrumental in getting a personal call through to his brother from the Vice President of the United States. At 17, Army service in WWII would be his first of two times serving our country. A great athlete and lifelong health and fitness enthusiast, he ran in the State of Ohio Track Championships as a “miler”. Being credited in the local newspaper for a great Tallmadge football play that was in fact one of his brother’s accolades, he wished to set the record straight. As an adult, he enjoyed hiking in the Rocky Mountains, the Appalachian Trial and the local Towpath Trail.

A graduate of Kent State University in graphic design and member of Phi Sigma Kappa, after meeting his bride to be while selling “South Pacific” records at Christmastime for O’Neil’s Department Store, they married in 1950 and moved to Washington, D.C., where they both worked at the Pentagon. He later earned an MBA from The University of Akron, while working many years as an executive with Good Supply Company. He once described that everyone is a salesperson no matter what field you’re in. He believed that you have to be able to promote yourself to get noticed and succeed.

At various stages of his life, sports were an integral part of his personal interests. A devoted fan of Cleveland teams like the Indians, Browns and Cavaliers; he also enjoyed rooting for The University of Akron Zips, Kent State University Flashes, as well as, The Ohio State University Buckeyes. With WABL, as a Little League Baseball coach for over 10 years and a lifelong Tribe fan (with the exception of Lou Gehrig being his favorite player), Bob’s enthusiasm to play ball crossed oceans, countries and states as he and his boys including sons, grandsons and great grandsons played baseball, while the girls played other sports with the determination and commitment to never give up that was central to his way of life.

After his Marine Corps service in the Korean War, Bob reunited with his wife and child, who was born while he was away. His valor was honored by Eleanor, who contacted their Congressman to get Bob off the battle lines and eventually home for good, where he enjoyed being accepted into his wife’s Italian family. Throughout his life, his dedication to his four children was never ending. He never spoke of the atrocities of war to them even when he traveled to Quantico, Virginia to visit the Marine Museum and reminisce about the relief of seeing rescue helicopters overhead and being the only soldier who would eat all the ice cream he wanted because no one else bothered. The weather was so cold that quarts of the frozen dessert were left at the foot of their beds. Decades later, a high ranking service man and woman, one a 3 Star Marine General and the other the first female Navy Admiral, both had a personal message for Bob of gratitude for his service to our country and to tell him that a Marine’s legacy is his children and family, which they found to be evident.

Always with a big smile and a friendly hello, Bob had a genuine style which served him well as a gifted artist and photographer. Winning several amateur awards in photography and being published in local papers and magazines with photos that expressed his love of living, he once said, “The longer you live, the more you want to live longer.” He found splendor in pastoral nature and all kinds of people, which he painted and photographed. On one of his contemporary paintings, he wrote, “To enrich the soul, behold the beauty in the world.” Bob fought through danger as a soldier, yet spent his life looking for the positives in people and the freshness of the outdoors. He was inspired by flora and fauna, which was often a common subject of his. Beginning as a child with few material possessions, yet full of love of family and friends, he found that people are the most important to him at every stage in life regardless of his success as a business executive and provider for his wife and children. He cherished time with family first and foremost.

Bob’s gentle yet steady way of getting you interested in art, museums, libraries and book stores was evident in his thirst for knowledge and his interest and investment in education. A devoted husband and family man, he was always eager to share and explore America and the world and research family history through adventures to National Parks, Amish country, college campus visits and scenic back road tours to find long lost relatives’ homes and memorials along highways. He felt at home wherever he was whether visiting family in parts of California, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, or Ohio. His favorite author, James Michener, who wrote about various locations around the world, guided his love of history. A quiet romantic, Bob’s enduring love for his wife was evident in his devotion to her and through his favorite book by Boris Pasternak and hit movie, Dr. Zhivago.

Encouraging others to pursue higher education, career and political aspiration, his influence reaches across his many siblings, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Somehow he felt there was a way to overcome any challenges and through patience and understanding was always there to rescue people in need. Bob would help out whether the person was a small child needing him to whisk them out of a crib or an elderly friend making their way through life’s journey. Always an optimist and never one to say goodbye, he wrote on one of his thousands of photographs, “Where shall we meet next time around?”

In recent years, Bob enjoyed being a volunteer and then resident photographer for The Village at St. Edward, which allowed him to meet everyone and work with the staff of his beloved retirement community. His sheer focus was to reunite with his friends there and to extend a special thank you to all the staff and friends from The Village at St Edward.

Bob is the loving father of James (Cynthia), Carol (Richard) Harpster, William, and Susan (Kenneth) Heydt, dearest grandfather to Matthew (deceased), Christopher, Joseph, and Timothy, Jessica and Royce Vanderbilt, Bryan, Rachael and Lauren Heydt, and great-grandfather of 8, dear brother of Stanley (Catherine), Brian, Don (Polly) both deceased, Vivian (Fred, deceased) Stiffler, Iris Detweiler, Nancy (Sam) McCracken, Joan (Jerry) Gravel and is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Orpha, grandson, Matthew, brother, Don, sister-in-law Polly, and brother-in-law Fred Stiffler. He is a dear uncle to many nieces and nephews.

He was a member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church for over 50 years.

Bob will be remembered for his love of God, family, and country. Adored forever by his family and friends, his memory and strength will live on through them for generations to come.

Family will receive friends Tuesday, July 7th from 6 - 8:00 p.m. at the CATAVOLOS FUNERAL HOME, 3653 W. Market St, Fairlawn. Funeral Service will be Wednesday, July 8th at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of The Village at St Edward, 3131 Smith Rd., Fairlawn, where family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. prior to and until the time of the service. Interment will be with Military Funeral Honors at Rose Hill Burial Park. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to The Village at St. Edward, 3131 Smith Rd., Fairlawn, OH 44333.