Robert Phillip Musselman

Obituary

Bob Musselman, age 76, of Lake Fairways, North Fort Myers died peacefully on Sunday, May 7, 2000 at Lee Memorial Hospital after a sudden and short illness. Bob was born on December 21, 1923 in Minersville, PA.

Bob is survived by his partner of two years Ella Schultz, two sons John S. and his wife Robin Musselman of St. Louis, and Robert P. (Jr.) and his wife Marty Musselman of Minneapolis, and grandchildren Luke and Coby of St. Louis, Parker and Hadley of Minneapolis, and Ian of Washington D.C.

Friends are welcome at a memorial service at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, at the Lake Fairways community center, followed by a gathering until 3 p.m. A lifelong sailor, swimmer, and ex-Naval officer, Bob's remains will be buried at sea this week by the U. S Coast Guard in a private ceremony.

Bob was the son of John Gordon and Hattie (Miller) Musselman. He grew up in Philadelphia, graduating from Olney High School in 1941. Bob graduated from Penn State University with a degree in industrial engineering in 1946. His studies were interrupted by WWII when he volunteered for flight training with the U.S. Navy. Bob served during WWII, earning his Naval Aviator wings as a pilot of the Hellcat, Corsair, and Dauntless Divebomber. He was released from active duty in 1945 as a Lieutenant, and he returned to Penn State to complete his studies.

At Penn State Bob distinguished himself as a student and athlete, earning four varsity letters his freshman year in track, swimming, water polo, and baseball, as well as leading his fraternity in handball, volleyball, tennis, and basketball competition. Early in his Naval training he also played varsity baseball and football for Cornell University. In a sport new to him, he won the heavyweight wrestling championship in Navy pre-flight school at Monmoth New Jersey. Academically he graduated first in his class of 600 in pre-flight training, as well as being appointed Battalion Commander.

Following graduation Bob first worked as an engineer for Western Electric in vacuum tube design and production in Allentown, PA, then textiles with Dan River Mills, in Danville, VA. He worked as a consultant to the steel and paper industries for George S. Armstrong Company in New York City from 1952 to 1959. Meanwhile Bob earned his professional engineer's license at Cooper Union in 1955. He was an executive with Mead Paper Company in Cincinnati, Dayton, Atlanta, and Tokyo rising to the position of President of Mead Packaging, Asia. Bob Joined Frosty Acres Frozen Foods in Atlanta in 1974 as Vice President of Administration and Chief Financial Officer retiring in 1987.

Bob moved to Fort Myers where, in retirement, he continued to consult for Frosty Acres and later took the position of consulting engineer and Assistant to the Director of the Lee County Department of Transportation and Engineering from 1990 through 1992. In his retirement Bob also maintained his athletic pursuits as a consistent winner of seniors' tennis tournaments and he was an avid golfer at Lake Fairways in North Fort Myers.

Bob traveled extensively with his partner, Ella Schultz, originally of Beloit, Wisconsin. They sailed in Alaska, traveled through Europe, and made a safari in Africa in the final years prior to Bob's death. An avid wildlife follower, Bob's family asks for memorial gifts to be sent to the World Wildlife Fund (checks payable to WWF indicating 'in memory of...'), mailed to 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037 or by phone at 800-960-0993. More information is available at www.worldwldlife.org.

Bob was a good father, a great friend, and a tenacious competitor to the end. We will miss him.