Robert George Ziegler

Robert grew up in Grass Valley, Oregon where he assisted his father at their family grocery store and worked harvesting wheat. He graduated from Grass Valley High School in 1942 and began his studies in chemistry at Oregon State University. He saw action in the Philippines during World War II with the U.S. Army’s 24th Infantry and was stationed in Japan with the occupation force. After being discharged as a Private First Class, he completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees at Oregon State.

While working at Allied Chemical in Hopewell, Virginia, he met Martha Grace Brindley, whom he married in Hopewell on July 10, 1953. They were married 42 years, until her death, and had a son and two daughters.

In 1957, Robert began teaching chemistry at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. While teaching, he commuted to the University of Tennessee and completed his doctorate in chemistry in 1969. He also held a special certificate from Multnomah School of the Bible. His teaching awards include the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award and induction into the LMU Educator’s Hall of Fame. Robert retired from LMU in 1992,but continued teaching part time for several years.

Robert was an active member of First Baptist Church, Harrogate, served as treasurer for the Claiborne County Historical Society, participated in his Gideon’s International chapter, bowled in the local senior league, and was a well-known pillar of the Harrogate community. Robert was a voracious reader and collector of books. He loved music and played the clarinet, piano, and organ, and sang in his church choir. He was an avid gardener, cultivating everything from peaches to cacti. He traveled across three continents on mission trips and leisure excursions. He was deeply devoted to his beloved cats. His unique sense of humor and infectious laughter will be dearly missed.

At age 89 he moved to McKendree Village, now Hermitage Senior Living, in Hermitage, TN. He promptly became an active member at Tulip Grove Baptist Church, a member of the senior bowling league, a subscriber to the Nashville Symphony, a member of his residential writing club, and a regular at the local library. He also curated a large window garden. Until his last days, family visits were arranged around his busy schedule.

Robert is fondly remembered by his children, David Ziegler (Debbie), Ruth Russell (Randy), and Robbie Hunter (Kevin); grandchildren, Martha Carletti (Matt), Greg Ziegler (Jeanette), Carl Ziegler (Kristina), Richard Hunter (Kristen Evans), Katherine Fair (Bryan), and Angela Russell; and great-grandchildren Meg Carletti, Kate Carletti, Zach Carletti, Tyler Ziegler, Eloise Ziegler, Caroline Ziegler, Samantha Ziegler, and Max Ziegler.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons International.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Hermitage Senior Living, 4343 Lebanon Pike. Visitation is at 1:00 p.m.