Robert Flick

Robert Gene Flick, age 94, passed away on Sunday evening the 8th of December 2024. Robert was a resident of Oviedo Florida for the past 10 years with his wife Ann K. Flick. Born in Oblong, Illinois on October 18th, 1930, Robert graduated from Oblong High School in 1948. While in High School his mother suggested that he ask a new girl in town "that Kibler girl", for a date, he did, and they married August 4, 1951.
In their first year of marriage, they welcomed their first child Danalee Theresa and Robert finished his BA from Eastern Illinois University at Charleston. Soon after they moved to Florida where Robert pursued a master's degree in English rom University of Florida in Gainesville. After earning his degree in 1954 they returned to Sycamore, Illinois where Robert taught High School and Guy Carter was born in 1956. Realizing that he was not cut out for teaching high school the young family returned to Florida where Bob landed a position teaching English at Jacksonville University while working on his doctorate at UF. Belinda Gabrielle and Daniel Kibler were added to the family, and he completed his degree in 1967. It was the beginning of his passion for college teaching.
The family moved to Winter Park, Florida in 1968 where Robert joined the charter faculty of the then Florida Technological University, now University of Central Florida as the Chair of the Humanities Department. He was instrumental in hiring and expanding the department with diverse instructors from around the country. For more than 30 years he shared his love of humanities, philosophy, religion and mythology, with hundreds of students not just at UCF but also abroad. Robert had a desire to travel and taught three separate times at the FSU study center program in Florence, Italy. Here he led classes of eager students from Sicily to Venice, Milan to Florence introducing them to Italian literature and culture, opening their hearts and minds to the world of renaissance art. In 1995 at the age 65 he started phased retirement but continued to teach until 2000.
Retirement was not a time to rest but an opportunity to travel more. The couple were active members of the Friendship Force hosting international visitors and exploring many countries. Robert felt strongly about the power of education and travel to transform lives, so he funded international study abroad opportunities at underserved colleges in Appalachia.
Looking for a quieter life Robert and Ann relocated to Oviedo, Florida where they moved into the house Guy built on acreage Bob had purchased in 1970. When they decided to downsize, they built a smaller residence on the remaining lot just next door. A house designed by Robert.
Robert was a natural teacher, mentoring and inspiring not only his students but his children and grandchildren to inquire and explore. He loved maps and would eagerly take to the highway to visit friends or watch a family member perform. Bob pulled the wagon and was pulled in the wagon by his grandkids with goofy pranks that earned him the moniker "Crazy Grandpa." He will be missed.
Robert is survived by his wife Ann, sons Guy and Dan, daughter Belinda, 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Guy and Docia and his daughter Danalee Maixner.
There will be a celebration of life at a later date.