Robert Bruce Rich, Sr.

Robert Bruce Rich, Sr., 97, of Port Clinton, Ohio, passed away on April 15th at Ottawa Riverview Healthcare Campus in Oak Harbor. He died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes.

Bob was born on March 17, 1927, in Conneaut, Ohio to Mabel and Carl Rich. Bob grew up close by and lived on a farm in Amboy.

Enrolling at Case Western Reserve in 1947 Bob became part of the Beta Fraternity. He met his future wife, Patricia A. Rich, and later married her in September of 1949. They later divorced in 1979. He graduated Case in 1950 with a Metallurgical Engineering Degree.

Serving his country, Bob was in the U.S. Navy at the end of WWII and in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957 at Watertown Arsenal Lab.

Bob held different positions during his life, utilizing his metallurgy education at various nuclear power plants spanning several states. He also owned and managed Nissen’s shoe store in downtown Port Clinton for many years.

A fascination and love of railroads followed Bob throughout his life. In retirement, he handmade an entire railroad village complete with mountains, tunnels, skylines and retail stores and businesses that were all named after his grandchildren.

Preceding Bob in death were his parents, his son, Robert B. Rich, Jr., and granddaughter, Jessica Rich. Surviving are his children: Susan (Jan) Fabian of New Bern, NC; Jonathan (Gretchen) Rich of Port Clinton and David Rich of Kelly’s Island. Surviving grandchildren include: Jacqueline, Nataleigh, Samantha, Robert, Kyle, Matthew, Amanda, Amber, David and Tyler; and many great-grandchildren.

Following his wishes, Bob’s body has been donated to medical research and in doing so no service is scheduled. Donations in his memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, where he was a lifelong supporter.