Robert Kilgore

Robert J. Kilgore, age 87, died at home in Pawleys Island, South Carolina on Thursday, March 14, 2013.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Bob Kilgore was born on May 12, 1925, in Erie, Pennsylvania to the late Charles D. and Mary Jane Lee Kilgore.

He served in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator from 1943 through 1947 and was in the reserves until 1954.

General Counsel and Senior Vice President for 24 years at Hammermill Paper Company, Bob was a partner with Marsh, Spaeder, Barr, Spaeder and Schaaf for ten years and past president of the Erie County Bar Association. Recently honored as having been in the Pennsylvania Bar for over 50 years, he enjoyed his work and his many civic engagements over the years.

Graduated from Erie East High School in 1943, Grove City College in 1951 and the University of Michigan Law School in 1954, Bob served as president for various organizations: the Erie YMCA, the Erie Club, and the School Board of Iroquois School District.

Bob was also active in the Presbyterian Church. Currently a member of the Georgetown Presbyterian Church of Georgetown, South Carolina, Bob served as an Elder at Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Lawrence Park, Pennsylvania in addition to having been Moderator for the Lake Erie Presbytery and Member and Master of Perry-Keystone Lodge No. 392 F. & A. M.

Bob entered his retirement years with his wife Betty in the Georgetown, South Carolina area at DeBordieu where they made new friends and provided wonderful experiences for their family. Survivors include his wife, Betty Baker Kilgore of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; three daughters: Deb Ford and her husband Jim, Evanston, Illinois; Nancy Patton and her husband, Doug, Georgetown, South Carolina; Susan Gadrix and her husband Vincent, LaGrange, Georgia; a brother, Charles Kilgore, San Antonio, Texas; three grandchildren: Lyndsey Patton, Atlanta, Georgia; Adam Patton, Superior, Colorado; and, Kara Bliley Cross and her husband Eric, Denver, Colorado. Bob was preceded in death by two sisters, Jean Smock and Martha Barthel.

Friends are invited to a visitation, service and reception at the Burton Funeral Home, 602 West 10th St, on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 12 noon until the time of services at 2p.m. with the Reverend Keith Sundberg officiating. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 558 Black River Road, Georgetown, South Carolina 29440 or the YMCA of Greater Erie, 31 West 10th Street; Erie, Pennsylvania 16501