Robert Lee "Bob" Reuther III

REUTHER III, Robert Lee "Bob"Age 80 of Nashville. Passed away early on July 3, 2008 at Richland Place Health Center following a nearly yearlong valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert L. Reuther Jr. and Betty Miller Reuther; son, Robert L. Reuther IV; brother, Arthur M. Reuther Sr. He is survived by daughters, Terry Quillen, Kit Reuther, Mickie Marberry (Robert) all of Nashville and Mary Beverly "Sissy" Watson (Ray) of Louisville; his beloved Elizabeth "Liddie" Dyer of Dickson; sister, Blanche Reuther Bergmeier (Ron) of St. Louis; grandchildren, Olivia Quillen, Rob Marberry both of Nashville and Tyler Watson of Louisville; nephew, Arthur M. Reuther Jr. (Sheila); nieces, Ann Reuther of Nashville, Betty Rich (Dale) of Franklin and Bonnie (Michael) Griffin of Texas; sister-in-law, Joan Reuther of Nashville; cousins, Eddie Reed (Gloria) and Jim Whitsett (Dianne) all of Nashville; his former wife, Judy Henslee. Born September 12, 1927, Bob (lovingly known as Gang to family and Bullet to his racing fans) grew up in Nashville, served in with the Naval Reserve in the Pacific during World War II and worked for his father's company, Reuther Electric. He married Beverly Pate of Nashville, who died in 2006, and they had five children, who were Bob's greatest pride and joy. An icon in Nashville stock car racing, he began driving on dirt tracks and was the first track champion at Nashville's Fairground Speedway in 1958, with Preacher Hamilton as his chief mechanic. Always a renegade who usually took the checkered flag, Bullet Bob was the driver fans either loved or hated but always showed up to see. He retired from racing in 1964, and a few years later, he and Beverly opened Hobby World, for radio control model airplane enthusiasts. Bob soon took up flying the real thing and owned a number of small private planes over the years. He worked for a number of years at Nashville Electric Service, where he counseled elderly Nashvillians on energy use, then became personal pilot for NASCAR driver Bobby Hamilton (his godson, who died last year of cancer) during the late '80s and '90s. In his later years, his hangar at John Tune Airport was a favorite hangout for local pilots. Visitation 4-7 p.m., Sunday. Service 2:30 p.m., Monday with visitation for an hour prior all at Woodlawn. Active Pallbearers: Charles (Satch) Beasley, Greg Doe, Steve Johnson, John Ragsdale, Russ Thompson, Ben Welch, Skip Zeller, Jeff Zimmerle and Kevin Adams. Honorary Pallbearers: Bobby Hamilton Jr., Dr. Mike Cisneros, Ken Poley, Arthur M. Reuther Jr., Jake Williams and R.C. Alexander. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made in Bob's memory to Victory Junction Gang Camp, www.victoryjunction.org, 4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317, toll free: 877-VJG-CAMP or (336) 498-9055.WOODLAWN-RESCH-PATTON FUNERAL HOME, 660 Thompson Lane, (615) 383-4754. A Dignity Memorial Provider