ROBERT L. "BOB" PEMBERTON

ROBERT L. "BOB" PEMBERTON, 85

WINTER HAVEN - Robert L. (Bob) Pemberton, 85, of Winter Haven, FL died of congestive heart failure July 7, 2013, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Bob was born July 16, 1927, in Damascus, Ohio to Elmer and Helen Gilbert Pemberton. He was a birthright Quaker who attended Friends' elementary school in Damascus as a child. He graduated from Bristolville, Ohio, High School and was a proud WW II U.S. Navy veteran having served on the U.S.S. North Carolina and U.S.S. Midway. He married his high school sweetheart Vivian Harper April 4, 1947, and the couple made their home In Bristolville, Ohio, until their move to Florida in 1999.
Bob was employed by Republic Steel Corp in Warren, Ohio for 37 years beginning as a laborer and working his way up to General Superintendent of Silicon, Galvanized, and Terne operations before he retired in 1984 with many patents in steel manufacturing to his credit. He was active in the Association of Iron and Steel Engineers throughout his long career--one which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Bob was a member of the Bristolville United Methodist Church for 55 years serving the church in many roles. In Florida he was an associate member of the Auburndale First United Methodist Church. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Family Motor Coach Association, and the Audubon Society. He and Vivian enjoyed traveling in their RV and visited all fifty states and many foreign countries. He enjoyed watching wildlife and maintained many bird feeders during the Ohio winters. In Florida he enjoyed the great variety of wildlife and birds from his home on the lake. He was creative and inventive and known to his friends and family as someone who could and would design, build, or repair most anything. Moreover Bob was a very caring man who was always generous with his time and talents. He stayed active during his retirement doing everything from renovating his church's parsonage to installing an elevator in the church for the benefit of the elderly and handicapped.
Bob was devoted to his family and his devotion was returned. He is survived by Vivian, his loving wife of 66 years who is a retired Kent State University Trumbull Campus English professor. He is also survived by his three children: Sharon (Jim) Garber of Ivor, VA, and Land' O Lakes, FL who retired from Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, Charles (Dolly) Pemberton of Hillsville, VA, who retired from LaBrae High School in Leavittsburg, Ohio, and Steven (Jennifer) Pemberton, of Wellington, FL who teaches at W. Boca High School in Boca Raton, FL. Bob valued education and was proud that all three of his children became high school teachers. His other survivors are his nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom he had the joy of seeing within his last year. He was their beloved "Papa" who was always ready to applaud their achievements and sympathize with their disappointments.
On Bob's 86th birthday, July 16th, the family gathered for a private memorial-birthday celebration at his home on Lake Marianna. His funeral services will be held at a future date at the Bristolville United Methodist Church In Bristolville, OH with the Rev. Shirley Frantz officiating. His ashes will then be interred in the Pemberton family plot at Sager Cemetery in N. Bristol, OH.
The family suggests that instead of flowers, memorial contributions be made In his name to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.