For Bob Meddings, he always had a love affair with the game of golf. He understood that if you didn’t take it seriously, it’s no fun. And if you do take it seriously, it breaks your heart.
Robert L. “Bob” Meddings, of Marion, died unexpectedly on Saturday evening, December 3, 2011, at the Riverside Methodist Hospital following a brief one week illness. He was 74 years old.
On May 19, 1937, Bob was born in Wayne County, West Virginia, one of five children of the late Mark and Nan (Spurlock) Meddings.
Leaving high school early to find work, Bob moved to Marion, Ohio, when he was 18 years old and began working at Marion Commercial Steel. Shortly thereafter, he also married Linda L. Meddings, on November 2, 1957, in Connersville, Indiana. Together they lovingly raised three children and shared nearly 40 years of marriage. She preceded him in death on October 8, 1997.
After four years of marriage, Bob was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army. He served as a crane operator for the Army Corps of Engineers and had been stationed in Korea for most of his time in the service. He then continued his service as a part of the U.S. Army Reserves for several years.
Upon his honorable discharge, Bob returned to Marion and resumed his work at the Marion Commercial Steel, which would become acquired by the Marion Power Shovel, where he worked as a crane operator for nearly 20 years. He then worked for 17 years for Tecumseh Products as a machine operator and foreman until they closed. Lastly, he worked at the Continental Hose Company in Upper Sandusky as a supervisor, until his retirement in 1992.
A noble man of God, Bob had been a former member of the Mount Vernon Avenue Church of Christ. Recently, he also attended the Grand Prairie Baptist Church.
An avid golfer, Bob loved every moment spent on the golf course, even though many moments were moments of frustration. He enjoyed sharing his love of golf with his family and friends, and most especially his golfing buddy, Barnie. He was also a member of the Kings Mill and Hickory Grove Golf Courses.
A skilled woodworker, Bob enjoyed making furniture for his family and friends, which consisted of things such as end tables, quilt racks, bird houses, and shelves.
Simply having a “knack” for gardening, Bob enjoyed tending to his vegetable and flower gardens every year.
An excellent yet selfish baker, Bob loved baking whatever he was in the mood to eat. He made wonderful cookies, candies, pies, apple sauce and pineapple upside down cakes, and his famous peanut brittle. He also made sure the cookie jar was always stocked for the grandchildren.
Well known for his quick wit, Bob always kept you on your toes and “made you chuckle” with his one liners.
Always the first to lend a helping hand, if Bob’s family was working on anything you could count on Bob being there. Despite his physical limitations, if he made up his mind he was going to do something “there was no stopping him”.
Getting a second chance at love, Bob married his neighbor and friend of many many years, Gloria Kay Meddings, on July 18, 2008, whom he felt blessed to share his life with.
Including his wife, Bob will be dearly missed by his three children: Randy (Shannon) Meddings, Kemberly Caudill (Skip Davis), and Michael (Denise) Meddings, all of Marion; his wife, Gloria Meddings, of Marion, and her two children: Ryan Hawk (Betsey Lyon) and Darin (Karen) Hawk; eight grandchildren: Jessica Carbetta (Josh DeBerry), Mallory and Marc Meddings, Eddie III and Alexis Caudill, Tess and Cy Meddings, and Carley Hawk; a great-granddaughter, Caylee Meddings; three sisters and a brother: Virginia (Thomas) Napier of Lavalette, WV, Barbara (Adolphis) Stephens of Wayne, WV, Jean (Ray) Mills of Lavalette, WV, and Roger (Nancy) Meddings of Marion; several nieces and nephews; and too many special friends to mention them all, except: Barnie & Jeannie Pierce, Neal & Thelma McCullough, Linda & Jay DeNise, and Norma and the late Bud Claffey.
Including his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Ed Caudill II.
The Meddings family will greet friends from 4 – 7p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, 360 E. Center St., Marion. Services honoring his life will also be held there on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Gene Parker and Russell Howard officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Marion County United Veterans Council will follow in Claiborne Cemetery in Richwood. Family and friends are then invited to share in a meal in Bob’s honor at the Richland Road Church of Christ.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grand Prairie Baptist Church, 4893 Marion-Upper Sandusky Rd., Marion, OH 43302.
The Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home is honored to have been chosen to serve Bob’s family, and condolences may be expressed to them online by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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