Robert Clark Dively

On Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Bob Dively passed away at home after fighting a long battle with cancer. He fought hard until the end and passed away holding the hand of his beloved wife, Linda aka "Kelley".

Robert “Bob” Clark Dively was born on April 6, 1933, in Warren Ohio. Amid the Great Depression, Bob’s youth was filled with baseball, idolizing Bob Feller, working a paper route at the age of eight and building his own bike and car. In high school, Bob became a well-known pitcher for his baseball team and was recruited for a Minor League Baseball team in Indiana. His mother argued against the decision, encouraging him to go to college. Following his mother’s wishes, Bob graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in 1951 and was accepted into the Engineering Program at General Motors Institute (GMI). During his sophomore year, Bob was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War conflict and was sent to Dugway, Utah to fly aircraft to collect weather data as the Army tested biological weapons. After his time serving in the U.S. Army, Bob returned to GMI and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He filed several patents with GMI and began his career as an engineer at General Motors Packard Electric Division producing high-tech aircraft and missile cable with high-temperature magnet wiring coatings he designed.

In 1978, Bob met Kelley and married shortly thereafter. After a few years in Michigan and the birth of their daughter, Jennifer, Bob and Kelley moved to Williamsburg, VA in 1982. As a general contractor constructing the Willoughby Spit Marina in Hampton, VA, Bob realized the need for a consolidated power and water source for boats to receive power and achieved his American Dream with his invention of the marina power pedestal. He was the founder of many power pedestal companies that still exist today such as Sea Technology and Marina Power and Lighting. After selling those companies, Bob could not sit idle in retirement. In 2011, Bob Dively founded Marina Electrical Equipment, Inc after a five-year non-compete order was over from selling his last company. Marina Electrical Equipment, Inc. is a true family business where his son-in-law, daughter, and wife all have integral parts in the company. During 91 years of life, Bob has filed 13 US patents and has expanded his corporation, Marina Electrical Equipment, to be a global leader in providing specialized electrical equipment such as power pedestals, unit substations, transformers and electrical designs for marinas, shipyards and private docks around the globe. Bob was most proud of his contributions to the safety of marina environments with his patented ground fault protective systems. Bob was a fierce businessman, a generous employer and a charismatic man who was always known for his trademark cigar and his glass of red wine. He was happiest at work and that was evident as he worked up until the last few months of his life as he valiantly battled stage 4 bladder cancer.

Outside of work, Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and antique car collecting. As a young boy, Bob often hunted with his father. His love of hunting was passed on to his son-in-law and grandsons when he purchased a hunting reserve in Surry County, VA. Many weekends, you would find them on tractors sowing food plots, hunting together and enjoying the outdoors. Fishing was another great love of Bob’s. After purchasing a sport fishing boat, Bob had many offshore fishing adventures and won several fishing tournaments including the Virginia Beach White Marlin Tournament and the Hatteras Marlin Fishing Tournament. In the months of November and December, you would find Bob on the James River, bundled up with his son-in-law and grandsons fishing for Rockfish and showing them his secret fishing holes. In the spring months, Bob always planted his vegetable garden, and his bountiful garden provided the most delicious tomatoes and cucumbers for the entire summer that would be shared with his family, employees and neighbors. Bob found such joy when his grandchildren found all the hidden cucumbers he had overlooked. Bob’s love for antique cars was evident in his vast collection of classic cars and motorcycles from various periods.

Bob was a family man, and immensely enjoyed being with his family and living right down the road from his daughter, Jennifer, son-in-law Kelly, and three grandsons Vaughn, Barrett and Graf in the house that he built for them. His greatest loves were his wife, Kelley and daughter, Jennifer. Bob will be greatly missed but always present in the traditions he instilled in his family.

Bob Dively is preceded in death by his parents, Margaret Louise Rose Dively and Henry Alfred Dively, and his sister Joyce Dively Hart. He is survived by his wife of 46 years Kelley Dively, daughter Jennifer Dively Treiber, son-in law Kelly William Treiber, and grandson’s Vaughn Robert Treiber (15), Barrett William Treiber (12) and Graf Michael Treiber (9). He is also survived by Robert G. Dively, Susan L. Dively, Cathy Dively, Sam Dively and Olivia Dively.

Bob Dively will be forever missed and remembered always for achieving the American Dream. Bob wrote a book of his life story and accomplishments for his family. His last page provides his outlook on life from which we can all reflect on: “I came from humble beginnings. I was born in the thick of the Great Depression in Ohio- not the most glamorous place, and certainly not the most glamorous time. In a way, that did define me, but in other ways, it did not. It showed me that the most valuable things in life are free and innate: persistence to practice, curiosity to experiment, ambition to turn interests into refined skills, and the love of family. The lack of money to buy a bike revealed my innate ability to make one. I hope you have the chance to experience that in some way: that you never give into restrictive circumstances, because beneath perceived lack might be a secret abundance. If you don’t try something, you’ll never know what your limits are. I certainly don’t have limits – I filed for two patents at age 87. Design your life to follow your passions, take it one step at a time, and you’ll have a life story worth telling.”- Bob Dively

Condolences can be sent to [email protected]. A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at the Williamsburg Community Chapel on Sunday, November 24th at 2pm with a reception at the church following the ceremony. All are welcome to attend. A Livestream of the service can be viewed at www.wcchapel.org/dively. Williamsburg Community Chapel, 3899 John Tyler Hwy., Williamsburg, VA 23185.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com.