Robert T. Skilliter Jr.

1931 - 2025

Robert T. Skilliter Jr.

08/11/1931 - 11/01/2025

Business Executive, Bank Chairman, Mayor, Civic Leader, Philanthropist

Born August 11, 1931, died November 1, 2025, at 94 years of age, at Genoa Retirement Village after a brief stay.

Robert was born in Genoa, Ohio, to Robert Sr. and Marian Hanson Skilliter, and lived most of his life on the same block on West Street.

Bob graduated from Genoa Area High School in 1949 and attended Miami of Ohio University and the University of Toledo. He married his high school sweetheart, Theresa Ann Grosjean, in 1951, started his family in 1955, became a volunteer fireman for Clay Genoa Fire Dept., and assumed management responsibilities for the Skilliter Hardware in Genoa. He eventually was elected president of the Clay Genoa Volunteer Firemen's Association. In 1959 he made a career change to help manage, along with his brother, Don, and their father, Acme Specialty Manufacturing Company in Toledo, another family business. Robert moved up through the ranks at Acme and ultimately became General Manager and then President of the firm until his retirement in 1995. He continued to serve as advisor to Acme Specialty, and as Director and Chairman of the Board of the Genoa Savings and Loan.

Bob spent his life in service of others. An active Rotarian into his 80's, he was a nearly perfect example of the Rotary credo, "Service Beyond Self." Even after having his own health issues, he insisted on taking loving care of his wife, Theresa, in their home for almost a decade as she declined, and for his mother, Marian, next door until near her death at 99 years of age. His involvement with the Toledo Rotary chapter included supporting its outreach program for Vietnam War refugees in the late 1970s. He personally sponsored, advocated for, and housed several refugee families through their process of assimilation and becoming legal U.S. citizens. He and Theresa also sponsored through Rotary, a German high school exchange student in their home. Out of that exchange came a wonderful friendship that continues today. Ludger Wellens is considered a part of the family.

Bob was always community minded, and very involved in many community, charity, and church efforts, usually accepting positions of responsibility. He chaired the annual Genoa homecoming, was a Director of the regional Boys Scouts of America Council, Director of Toledo Regional Management Association, member of the Ottawa County Planning Commission, Director of the Jaycees, Director of the Red Cross of greater Toledo, member of numerous school levy campaigns, Genoa Parks committee chairman, a decades long frequent conference delegate, lay leader, church board member, loyal parishioner of Trinity United Methodist Church, and in retiremen,t was an active member of TMACOG, a regional planning and cooperation council for surrounding Ohio counties. Bob was elected Genoa village councilman in 1986 and four years later as mayor, serving two terms through 1999. As mayor he was instrumental in widening and rerouting SR163 near town to improve safety. In 2015, he was honored as the outstanding senior citizen of Ottawa County. He and his wife, Theresa, delivered mobile meals for several years.

Bob was a proud active member of the Republican party and donor to numerous PAC's, conservative causes, and charities. He and Theresa traveled extensively in their motorhomes, and internationally. Always a visible presence, he and Theresa regularly attended and supported their children's and grandchildren's many sporting events, birthday celebrations, and holidays.

As a skilled handyman, woodworker, and tinkerer/innovator, he planned and installed many kitchens and baths in area homes in his early days as part of his Genoa hardware store duties. He also stepped in to help with many church maintenance and rehabbing activities, including refinishing church pews, renovating a school bus for youth activities, and coordinating to have a sanctuary elevator installed and donated by the Skilliter family. In his role as President at Acme Specialty he created many process and product innovations and was awarded two patents in the field of mobile mirror and sunshade design. His foresight, determination, and contacts within the glass industry helped develop a line of super-durable tempered glass mirrors for off-road construction haul trucks that are still in use today.

Left to cherish many decades of special memories of him are his five children, Mary (Joseph) Bergman, and sons, Robert III (Jane), William (Julie), Richard (Meri), and Gerald.

Also surviving are his grandchildren whom he dearly loved, Ashley (Nathan) Egbert, Emily (Craig) Pickerel, Amanda (Christopher) Kinison, Joseph (Jessica) Bergman, Robert (Nicole) Bergman, Jackie (Ben) Kauder, Blake (Chelsea) Skilliter, Blair (Sarah) Skilliter, Brynn (Adam) Krukemeyer, Evan (Rachel) Skilliter, Jordan (Nicole) Skilliter, and Braden (Constance) Skilliter; 29 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Theresa; great-granddaughters, Addison and Ella Egbert; and great-grandson, Jack Skilliter.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank his dedicated in-home care givers, Rick Trouten, Bill Trouten, and Heather Hall, who tended to his needs with compassion and love.

Arrangements entrusted to Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory.

Memorial contributions can be made to Genoa Trinity United Methodist Church Arts Memorial Fund.

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