Robert Elliott Surtees

Robert Elliott Surtees
December 23, 2023
Robert "Bob" Elliott Surtees, 90 years old, of Cumming, GA, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 23, 2023 after a sudden exacerbation of a chronic illness. The family is deeply saddened.
Bob was born in 1933 to Leyburne and Margery Surtees in Terre Haute, IN, and was later raised by his Uncle Oscar Surtees after his father's passing. He graduated from high school in Winchester MA and earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Tufts University. Bob served our country as 2nd Lt USAF at Edwards AFB, CA and was honorably discharged from active service as 1st Lt. He returned to Massachusetts where he earned a M.B.A. of Distinction at Harvard Business School, and began his fulfilling and successful 29 year career with IBM. Bob's early accomplishments as Executive Assistant to the President of IBM propelled him to hold many distinguished positions such as Director of Business Development, NYC, NY, Director of Business Planning, Atlanta, GA, General Manager of Biomedical Systems, Princeton, NJ, and Director of Marketing, Atlanta, GA. Bob retired from IBM in 1987 and continued for decades with other successful business ventures in which he served as President, CEO, and Chairman.
Bob met the love of his life, Elizabeth "Betty" Brice in White Plains NY in 1968. They married and raised two children, Kim and Joe, in Dunwoody, GA along with their many furry family cats and dogs. They enjoyed spending weekends and holidays at their lake house on Lake Lanier, and eventually retired in a beautiful lakeside home surrounded by wonderful neighbors and dear friends.
As a young man, Bob kick-started his travel bug with a 6,000 mile, zig-zag drive across the country in his Triumph TR3, followed by a European adventure on $10 a day. He enjoyed sailing his boat in the NYC harbor. Later, he and Betty loved traveling the world together and IBM gave them many opportunities to satisfy their wanderlust. In 1998, Bob and Betty bought their first RV and began their second honeymoon! They loved their RV lifestyle, became experts exploring, and had many fun adventures with family and friends. Bob was an avid photographer and gave us beautiful pictures all along the way.
Bob was predeceased by the love of his life, wife Betty; brother Richard Surtees, sister Nancy Surtees McKenna. He is survived by his daughter Kim, son Joe and wife Nancy, granddaughters Karly and partner Jason, Jodie and husband Derrick, Mindy and husband Zack and son Sam, and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Sunday, January 14, 2024 @ 2:00 PM, at Deer Creek Presbyterian Church, Cumming GA, with Reverend Sid Gunther presiding. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Macular Degeneration Research, 225123 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871 or www.Brightfocus.org/MDR
Arrangements are in the care of McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Dr. Cumming, GA 30040, 770-886-9899.
Condolences may be expressed at mcdonaldandson.com.