Robert Edward "Bob" Lee

Robert E. "Bob" Lee, 89, of Bedford, died on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, at First Presbyterian Church of Bedford, with burial at Green Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 14 at the Ferguson-Lee Chapel in Bedford, with a short prayer service at 6:00 p.m.

Born on December 10, 1935, in Clinton, Indiana, and raised in Rockville, Indiana, Bob was a graduate of Rockville High School, where he was heavily involved in both sports and the arts. He loved his "Rox" classmates and kept in touch with them throughout his life. After graduation, Bob headed south to Bloomington to attend Indiana University, which would have a profound effect on the remainder of his life. While at IU, he played cornet in the Indiana University Marching Hundred, sang with the Singing Hoosiers, and became President of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was the first of three generations of his family to ride in the famous Little 500, followed later by his son Robert, and then Robert's son, Evan. But most importantly, it was at IU that he met Marjorie ("Marge") Boone, while working in the kitchen of her sorority house.

Bob graduated from IU and left Bloomington with a love for his alma mater that never faltered, as evidenced by the fact that he held season tickets for both Indiana University men's football and basketball for 68 years. In good seasons and in bad, no matter the weather and regardless of the opponent, Bob rarely missed a chance to cheer on the Hoosiers. Everyone was welcome to stop by his tailgate, pull up a chair and grab something to eat and drink.

After college, Bob attended the Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago. Bob was a proud veteran of the military, having served for three years in the United States Army, where he achieved the rank of Captain.

Bob and Marge married on November 15, 1958, with $50 to their names but an abundance of optimism. Their optimism served them well as they moved to Bedford, Indiana, to establish their new life together. Bob served the community as a funeral director and owner of Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home for nearly his whole life. He later expanded his business to include additional funeral homes in Shoals, Jasonville, Mitchell and Loogootee, Indiana. Bob and Marge devoted themselves to Bedford and made friends that became their extended family. Bob donated resources to numerous organizations in Bedford and Lawrence County and was a member of the Bedford Elks #826, Bedford Lodge #14 F&AM, American Legion Gillen Post 33, and the Kiwanis club. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bedford, Indiana University Alumni Association, Indiana University Varsity Club, active at the state level of the American Red Cross Indiana Region and a President of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association.

In addition to the Hoosiers, Bob loved the Indianapolis 500, boating and fishing. Tailgating at the Indianapolis 500 (beginning before the crack of dawn) was a family standard. Bob was a long-time active member of the United States Power Squadron. He completed the "Great Loop," a 6000-mile boating adventure around the eastern United States and Canada. Bob loved being on the water. Whether it was on the Ohio River, Kentucky Lake, the Great Lakes or throughout Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, he was always ready to take the boat out. Bob loved fishing and taking fishing trips with his friends and family. Incredibly, no matter who joined him, Bob always managed to catch the biggest fish and the most fish.

Above all else, Bob loved his family. He was immensely proud of his children and grandchildren and loved spending time with them, talking with them about their lives, accomplishments and plans for the future.

Bob is survived by his wife of 66 years, Marjorie; his children, Julie Jenkins and her husband, Mike, Sarah Lee and her husband, Tom Murphy, Christopher Lee and his wife, Laura, Andrew Lee and his wife, Caice; grandchildren, Stephanie Shryock and her husband, Ben, Elizabeth Guilfoyle and her husband, Rob, Laura Booth and her husband, Keenan, Bobby Lee, Jennifer Lee, Nathan Lee and his wife, Morgan Geeslin, Evan Lee and his wife, Alexis, Nicholas Lee, Joseph Lee, Matthew Lee, Andrew Lee and Jackson Lee; great-grandchildren, Florence and Fritz Shryock, Reis and Eden Guilfoyle, and Ford and Scout Beatrice Booth.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel Dorsey and Ellen Newkirk Lee; his son, Robert E. Lee II; and his brother, David Lee, and his wife Docia.

Memories may be shared, condolences sent, and flowers ordered at www.FergusonLee.com.

The staff of Ferguson-Lee Chapel of Thorne Family Funeral Homes is honored to have been entrusted with the arrangements for Robert E. "Bob" Lee.