Dr. Robert Shively

1930 - 2021

Dr. Robert Shively

Milford - Dr. Robert Francis Shively, husband, father, grandfather, dentist, patriot, storyteller, golfer and mole catcher left this earth on January 1st, 2021 at peace, surrounded by his family in the home he built and loved. Born in 1930, Bob grew up in Linwood on Heekin Avenue and began working for his father's trucking business at the age of 7. By 14, he was driving egg trucks to the plant where they would be processed and sent to the troops on the frontline where his older brothers served. Bob was proud to be a small part of the war effort and this began Bob's deep commitment to his country and steadfast patriotism. His faith and love of community began at Calvary Presbyterian Church where he made lifelong friends, who together would worship, rear children, support one another in hard times and spend summers with their families full of laughter at Lake Cumberland.

At the urging of his cousin and best friend Stanley, Bob was the first in his family to attend college and worked his way through Ohio Northern University where he earned a B.S. and Case Western Reserve where he received his D.D.S. in 1956. He truly loved his profession and during his 42 years of practice served as the President of the Cincinnati Dental Society and was active in the Ohio Dental Association where he worked to advance better dental care demonstrating his ongoing commitment to serve others. He was a pioneer in water fluoridation and dental insurance. Bob was inducted into the International College of Dentistry and was the recipient of the Cincinnati Dental Society Meritorious Service Award.

His favorite patient, a pretty young teacher named Jackie, would become the love of his life and wife for 62 joyful years. They were an unbreakable team from day one, joined by their faith in God, their love and commitment to family and Jackie's southern cooking that kept Bob well-fed with fried chicken, apple pie and of course, bacon. Their life together brought them 3 children, countless friends, service to their church (Milford First United Methodist) for 57 years and the joy of being grandparents. They traveled the world, spent endless days driving across the US in awe of it's beauty and enjoyed a much-anticipated escape each winter to Palm Springs. Their travels always brought them back to Bob's favorite place on earth, the home they built in 1968 in the heart of Milford, Ohio just blocks away from his dental office and favorite Skyline Chili.

Faith, family, country, community and profession were the driving forces throughout Bob's life. He was a prolific storyteller and 50% of every story was usually true. You just never knew which 50%. His ability to make others laugh was unparalleled and his stories will keep his friends and loved ones laughing for years to come. Bob Shively loved LIFE. He embraced and was grateful for every minute of his 90 years on earth. He had the ability to lift the spirits of everyone around him. His legacy will carry on through those whose lives he shaped the most, his wife Jackie, son Robert E. (Judy) and Samantha Shively, daughter Mandy (Max) Will and Graham Reverman, daughter Libby (Pat) Morgan and Corwin McAvoy. His extended family and innumerable friends will remember him joyfully. He is preceded in death by father Robert E. Shively, mother Ruth (Corwin) Shively, brothers Harold and John Shively and sisters Mildred Johnson, Marie Droescher and Betty Martin.

In honor of Bob, we hope you will do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness. And find a reason to laugh every day.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made In Memory of Dr. Robert F. Shively to his beloved Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, 3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 https://cincinnatizoo.thankyou4caring.org or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate (888)557-7177.

Due to current circumstances, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Evans Funeral Home serving the family. www.evansfuneralhome.com