Robert Alan Morse

1931 - 2023

Robert Alan Morse
Born: January 17, 1931 in Saint Louis, MO
Died: July 25, 2023 in Boise, ID
Robert A. Morse was born on 17 January 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri to John R. Morse and Grace (nee Petranich) Morse. He attended public schools in St. Louis and then studied at the University of Missouri, obtaining a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1953. He was commissioned as a U.S. Navy officer in the same year, and married Bunny (nee Felda Tupper) in 1954. He became a pilot in the Navy, and served during the last part of the Korean conflict. After leaving the Navy in 1958, he held various engineering jobs at McDonnell Douglas and Ford Motor Company. At McDonnell, he was involved in the development of the F4 Phantom fighter plane and Project Mercury. At Ford he was involved in the development of the Mustang automobile. He became a dealer for Ford in Ottawa, Illinois starting in 1966, and remained as Ottawa's Ford dealer until 1986. While in Ottawa, Bunny became popular as WCMY's morning talk show co-host, and both were active members of the Ottawa Boat Club.
Bob kept his passion for flying going in Ottawa, and was most often to be found in his hangar. He was a founding member of the Lima Lima flight team, which performed formation flying exhibitions all over the country. He also became a banjo player and delighted at performing at various events. Bob and Bunny went back and forth to Punta Gorda, Florida from Ottawa for many years, permanently settling in Florida in the mid-1990s.
Bob is survived by his sister, Jane of Florida, his son Edward of Berkeley, California, his daughter Karen (Ron) Hanson of Boise, Idaho, two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Bunny (d. 1997) and his parents.
No services are planned. Memorials can be sent in Bob's name to the American Cancer Society or the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast in Punta Gorda.