Robert Singleton

SINGLETON, ROBERT, After a 16-month illness, long-time Miami resident and Knight-Ridder, Inc. executive, Robert F. Singleton, died Saturday as a result of complications from multiple myeloma. He was 75. Robert Franklin Singleton was born to Paul Gibson Singleton, Sr. and Mary Louise Clark Singleton in Tampa, Florida, March 20, 1930, and lived there until his graduation from Henry B. Plant High School in 1948. He attended the University of Florida, was an active member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and played trumpet in the Gator Marching Band. At the onset of the Korean War, he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Roswell, New Mexico, where he earned an honorable discharge at the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the war, Singleton married Dolores Frances Holt, a Roswell resident, and returned to the University of Florida, earning a BSBA in accounting in 1956. A CPA, his career was launched in Roswell, New Mexico, where he was a partner in the accounting firm, Deason, Crocker, Singleton and Peters, now Ernst and Young. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church, the Kiwanis Club and the YMCA, and he played first trumpet in the Roswell Symphony Orchestra. Recruited to Knight Newspapers, Inc. in 1970, Singleton was hired as the company's first Corporate Controller. He shepherded the young corporation through a merger with Ridder Publications, Inc. in 1974, and retired in 1993 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Knight-Ridder, Inc. Throughout his 36 years in Miami, Singleton was involved in many civic and community activities. He was a Deacon at Wayside Baptist Church, an Elder at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, and, most recently, Old Cutler Presbyterian Church. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Board of Trustees and served as chairman of the audit committee for Baptist Health of South Florida. He was, at one time, a board member of Miami Christian College, now Trinity University. In addition to his Miami volunteerism, Singleton served on several other boards, including Covenant Theological Seminary, Evangelism Explosion International, Ministries in Action, God's World Publications, and WORLD magazine. His work and volunteerism kept him busy, but for Singleton, people were the priority. A committed Christian, he believed one's relationships with God, his family, and his friends were what mattered most. His life was characterized by enthusiasm, integrity, humor, optimism, loyalty and encouragement. He maintained residences in both Miami and in Alto, New Mexico, and claimed friendships that dated back to the 1940s. Singleton was a lifelong musician. A jazz trumpet player, he composed numerous pieces of music, including a march that was performed in concert by the University of Florida Symphonic Band in 2004. Until his illness, he still played his trumpet every day. Singleton is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dolores Holt Singleton, his children, Jeniffer Lin Singleton of Alamogordo, NM, and Jan Singleton Ayerst and her husband, Douglas Irvin Ayerst, of Delray Beach, FL, and his grandchildren, Erin Singleton Leadingham, 10, of Alamogordo, NM, Rebecca Louise Ayerst, 20, Robert Benjamin Ayerst, 18, Matthew Douglas Ayerst, 15, and Katharine Elaine Ayerst, 13, of Delray Beach, FL. He is also survived by his brother, Paul Gibson Singleton, Jr. of Tampa, FL, and five nieces and nephews. A funeral service is planned for 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church, 14401 Old Cutler Road, Miami. A reception will follow. Funeral arrangements are being made by Stanfill Funeral Homes. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.herald.com/obituaries.