Robert Wortman

WORTMAN

Robert Vincent



Robert Vincent Wortman, 87, of Findlay, OH died at 5:50 a.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at St. Catherine's Care Center of Findlay.

Bob was born on December 3, 1927, in Findlay to Vincent and Marcella G. (Kaple) Wortman. He married Mary Lou Day on June 26, 1948, and she preceded him in death on August 28, 2013.

He is survived by his children, David (Debra) Wortman, Amy (Glen) Opp, John (Brenda Fox) Wortman, Jim (Cathy) Wortman, Sarah (Bryan) House and Paul (Maureen) Wortman; fourteen grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Bill Wortman; two grandchildren, Miles Ryan Wortman and Scott Andrew Wortman; three sisters, Mary Lou Iler, Betty Wortman, and Barbara Adams, and one brother, Richard Wortman.

Bob was a 1945 Findlay High School graduate where he played football and basketball. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1945-1947. He then attended Findlay College from 1947-1951, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He was a catcher in the Cleveland Indians Baseball Farm System from 1950-1954, playing in Green Bay, WI, Spartanburg, SC, Cedar Rapids, IA and Reading, PA. He was voted "Rookie Most Likely to Succeed."

Bob was the owner of Wortman Insurance from 1953-1986. He had a career in the NFL as an official spanning the years 1964-1992. He held the Field Judge position and was privileged to officiate at the 1972 and 1978 Super Bowls. Bob also was a Mid-Am Basketball official from 1956-1981, officiating two consecutive Final 4's in 1975 and 1976; and was a supervisor in that conference from 1981-1984. From 1984-1988 he was a Big Ten Basketball supervisor.

Bob was in the first class of inductees into the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame and was also inducted into the Findlay College Hall of Fame in 1972. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed volunteering at the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield, OH for many years. He was also involved in the PGA West.

His memberships included B.P.O.E., forty-five years; Findlay Country Club, thirty-one years; was a charter member of the Optimist Club; was involved in Findlay Youth Baseball from 1948-1973 and was the first president. Bob was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church from 1927-1993, and was also a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Palm Desert, CA.

Bob was a longtime resident of Findlay, OH. He and Mary Lou resided in California for eleven years, 1991-2002, and in Colorado for five years, 2005-2010. For the past five years, Bob was a resident at Fox Run and St. Catherine's Nursing Homes. The family would like to thank these facilities for their loving care.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 617 West Main Cross Street, Findlay at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2015, with Msgr. Michael Hohenbrink, celebrant.

All family and friends are invited to a gathering at the Knights of Columbus hall immediately following the memorial mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Findlay Youth Baseball, P.O. Box 608, Findlay, OH 45839.

Kirkpatrick-Behnke Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at:

www.kirkpatrickbehnke.com