Robert T. Florine

1932 - 2022

Florine, Robert T. 90, passed away on Tuesday, October 18 at Walnut Manor (Lutheran Community Home), Seymour, Indiana. He moved to Seymour with his wife Shirley in April 2022, having lived in Flint, Michigan his entire life. Funeral services will be conducted at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 402 S. Ballenger Hwy, Flint, on Tuesday, October 25 at 10:30am, with burial at Glenwood Cemetery (Flint). Visitation will be at Sharp Funeral Homes, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek, on Monday, October 24 from 5:00-7:00pm and at church one hour before the funeral service. Born on March 10, 1932 in Flint, he was the son of Theodore R. and Vera (Moak) Florine. He married Shirley A. Scott on April 11, 1953 and they had five children. He graduated from Flint Technical High School in 1950 and from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1954 and received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree in 1955. He worked as an engineer for General Motors at Buick and at AC Spark Plug, retiring as a staff engineer in 1991 with over 40 years of service. As a young family with five children, he and his wife traveled extensively through the U.S. and Canada, and in later years, they visited several other countries. Woodworking was his favorite hobby; in his retirement he built furniture, did wood artwork, and built jewelry cabinets and model trucks and cars for family members. He also designed and built two personal homes and he remodeled two historical houses. He was very active at St. Paul Lutheran Church, holding every lay leadership position during his tenure. His volunteer activities tended toward local Flint history and preservation, with time spent at Sloan Museum, Mott Applewood estate, and Durant Dort building. He was a former member of the Swartz Creek Planning Commission and Retired Men's Fellowship of Greater Flint. Survivors include his wife of 69 years Shirley (Scott) Florine; brother Howard (Mary Ann) Florine; sister Janet (Roger) Erickson; son David (Sharon) Florine; son-in-law Ronald Bleck; two granddaughters, Sara (Corey) Green and Katie (James) Hueseman; three grandsons, Aaron (Erin) Bleck, Jacob (Kim) Florine, and Jason (Leanne) Bleck; and thirteen great grandchildren: Malachi, Isaiah, and Elijah Green; Joshua, Caleb, and Levi Hueseman; Simon and Samuel Florine; Audrey, Rylee, and Lainey Bleck; Callen and Emery Bleck. His was preceded in death by two sons, Robert W. Florine and Bruce M. Florine, and by two daughters, Linda M. Bleck and Bethany K. Florine. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Endowment Fund. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.