Robert Sherman Meeder

Robert “Bob” Sherman Meeder Sr., 96, of Dublin, Ohio, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 24, 2025. Bob Sr. was the founder of Meeder Investment Management, but more than that, he was a devoted family man, coach, mentor, and lifelong athlete whose presence and humor enriched the lives of many. His 96 years were marked by resilience, creativity, and a steadfast spirit that guided him throughout his life.

Born in Chicago during the Great Depression, Bob Sr. then moved to Columbus, Ohio, in his early childhood and eventually to Upper Arlington. There, he found an environment where he thrived. At Upper Arlington High School he became a multi-sport athlete and even appeared in school plays and musicals. His natural leadership and drive carried him to Northwestern University on a football scholarship, where he was a member of the Wildcats team that won the Rose Bowl in 1949. Northwestern was also where Bob Sr. met his first wife, beginning a young marriage that would bring both joy and challenges.

When Bob Sr. was 24, his wife contracted polio and was placed in an iron lung, presenting him with a difficult test of his young family life. With two small daughters at home, Bob Sr. stepped into an almost difficult challenge. Later, when asked how he felt during that time, he replied simply: “I wasn’t scared, I was mad.” That determination gave him the strength to act. On the advice of doctors, Bob Sr. moved his young family to the dry climate of California, taking a coaching job at the China Lake Naval base near Bakersfield. He would later recall with a laugh how he once stopped at a payphone to report he was running late and, glancing around, told them: “I’m in Mojave,”—realizing he was quite literally in the middle of the desert.

Returning to Ohio once his wife’s health improved, Bob Sr. resumed his passion for coaching, serving at Upper Arlington High School, where he coached numerous sports. He later became a high school head coach in Bowling Green, with the possibility of joining the college ranks at Bowling Green State University. However, with his growing family depending on him—Bob Sr. turned his energy toward business. He reinvented himself as a stockbroker, eventually becoming an executive of a Columbus insurance company. In 1974, drawing on his experience and an instinct for building, he founded R. Meeder and Associates, now known as Meeder Investment Management, a firm grounded in integrity, discipline, and service. What began modestly has now grown into a respected national investment company.

Bob Sr., however, was never defined by a single career. He was a natural risk-taker and creator, always eager to invest, build, or improve. He flipped houses before it was fashionable, invested in an oil well, and later raised harness racehorses on a farm in Ostrander. Additionally, he founded Doc Henderson’s, an acclaimed restaurant and gathering place in Marysville that became a destination and contributed to the town’s revitalization. These ventures reflected not just entrepreneurial spirit, but Bob Sr.’s joy in creating experiences that brought people together.

Faith was an anchor throughout Bob Sr.’s life. He grew up attending First Community Church in Columbus, where Rev. Roy Burkhart left a lasting impression. He kept Burkhart’s small books by his side for decades, reminders of the values he held dear.

To his family, Bob Sr. was simply “Grandpa Bob.” He delighted in his four children— Karen, Lynda, Susie, and Bob Jr. and his wife, Susan—and took great pride in the accomplishments of his nine grandchildren: Jason, Seth, Luke, and Christopher Wyland ; Noah, Lilian, and Ansel Beck; and Ashley (Meeder) Lauro and Kelly (Meeder) Murray and 12 great-grandchildren: Iya Beck, Taj Beck, Nia Moutawakil, Ezra Wyland, Milo Wyland, Myles Wyland, Marcus Wyland, and Bimini Lauro, Iluka Laura, Enzo Lauro, Raymond Murray, and Layton Murray.

He celebrated their successes as if they were his own. Bob Sr. was an incredible storyteller, captivating family gatherings with tales of football, business ventures, and adventures, always told with wit and humor. Even into his 90s, he kept everyone laughing with his playful spirit. Remarkably, Bob Sr. remained an athlete his entire life, golfing well into his final decade.

Those who knew Bob Sr. will remember a man of quiet strength and integrity, with a presence that was both grounding and inspiring. He was keenly observant, generous with his support, and always ready to encourage others to rise to their potential. His life was a testament to perseverance, adaptability, and creativity.

Bob Sr. leaves behind family and community deeply shaped by his example. His legacy endures in the values he lived by and instilled in others—integrity, determination, generosity, and joy. Above all, he will be remembered as a husband, father, grandfather, coach, mentor, and friend whose life was full, creative, and well-lived.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Muirfield Village Golf Club, 5750 Memorial Drive, Dublin, OH 43017. For additional information or to RSVP, please contact April George at [email protected].