Robert L Oakes

Robert L. “Bob” Oakes, age 84 of New Philadelphia, passed away peacefully early Friday morning, May 3, 2013, in the care of Community Hospice House at New Philadelphia.

Born December 7, 1928, at Mansfield, he was a son of the late Clarence Nathaniel and Katheryn Hartman Oakes, and was a 1947 graduate of St. Peter’s High School.

After graduation, Bob met and fell in love with the former Martha Schooley, who shared his birthday, but was two years his junior. They wed February 16, 1952 and have celebrated sixty-one years of marriage.

For nearly thirty-eight years, Bob was affiliated as an agent and manager with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, beginning his career in their Wooster, Ohio sales office. Bob was promoted to the Akron, Ohio sales office where he began managing and mentoring others. His natural ability to put people at ease and help others solve problems lead him to be promoted to the Cleveland, Ohio sales management team. His love of small town life never really left him, and in 1977 when he saw an opportunity to represent Met Life in the Tuscarawas Valley, he and Martha relocated to New Philadelphia.

Bob was an active civic and church leader in New Philadelphia, having been a member of the New Philadelphia Kiwanis Club since 1978, and serving as club president in 1982 and 1983 and serving as Lieutenant Governor at the district level for two terms . At Sacred Heart Church, Bob is past president of Parish Council, a member of the Knights of Columbus, served as Eucharistic minister, lector, and having entered the Diaconal program, served in the absence of priests at funerals and other church events. Bob was also a member of the B.P.O. Elks #510.

Bob will be long remembered for his genuine, gentle nature, friendly smile, and for his leadership by example.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Martha, include his daughter Penney (husband, Walter) Zartman of Dennison, Ohio and his son, Robert “Bob” (wife, Carol) Oakes of Green, Ohio.

He’ll be sadly missed by his four grandchildren, Dr. Lauren (husband, Eric) Fuller of Lakewood, Ohio, Nichole Oakes of Cleveland, Ohio, Luke Oakes of Findlay, Ohio, and Dennis (wife, Jessie) Oakes of Lumber Bridge, North Carolina; four step-grandchildren, Melissa Zartman of Middlebranch, Ohio, Bradley Zartman of Sharon Center, Ohio, Dr. Gregory Zartman of Westfield Center, Ohio and Elizabeth (Brett) Richards of Columbus, Ohio and four great-grandchildren, Aden, Nathan, Caleb and Ethan.

A sister, Betty Schag of Mansfield, O. and many nieces and nephews complete the family.

In addition to his parents, Bob is preceded in death by brothers Paul and Delmar Oakes.

Friends are invited to call Sunday afternoon from 2-5 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where a Christian Wake Service will commence at 2 PM.

Fr. Jeff Coning will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial Monday morning at 10:30 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with interment following in Calvary Cemetery, New Philadelphia.

Following the committal service family and friends will gather at St. Ambrose Hall for a luncheon reception.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 139 Third Street NE New Philadelphia, OH 44663 or to Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County 716 Commercial Avenue SW New Philadelphia OH 44663. The family is grateful to both the caregiving staff at New Dawn Retirement Center where Bob and Martha have resided recently and those with Community Hospice for their loving kindness.

To share memories and condolences with the family please visit Bob’s permanent memorial on the funeral home’s website: www.GeibCares.com