CENTERVILLE —
"Coach Bob" Robert Gaylord Middleton was born Aug. 5, 1921 in Centerville.
He graduated from Centerville High School in 1940 and served honorably during World War II with the US Navy from 1943-1946. The lovely Sylvania "Sally" Ranes became his wife in 1946. Together they had six children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandsons. This was his most important work — patriarch of a big family. A long career as a metallurgical and chemical engineer began after graduating from Colorado School of Mines in 1949. Bob was the first metallurgist employed by the Maytag Company and he went on to work for Solar Aircraft, Westinghouse, Atomics Intl. and finally, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. At PWA, with top-secret clearances, he was one of the lead consulting engineers helping develop high-tech metals used on aircraft such as the SR71 and other advanced aircraft. Bob's love of sports began at an early age. He was a star player at Centerville High in baseball and basketball. He played both sports into his early 30s. In his 40s he picked up coaching again and coached his sons and grandsons in those sports. He was involved in youth athletics in Lake Park, North Palm, Juno and Port St. Lucie. He served for years as director of the Palm Beach Gardens Youth Athletic Association with whom he coached and umpired all over the county. His last coaching work was with his granddaughter's basketball team at Jupiter Christian School when his was 82 years old. He received many awards for his untiring service to the youth of our county. Bob's joy was helping kids be the best athletes they could be and more importantly helping them become the best sportsmen and women they could be. He was in hospice when the Lord called him home Sept. 2, 2012 at 6:41 with his son, Mark at his side. He joins his daughter, Connie and grandson, Brandon and other loved ones in heaven.
Bob was one of 10 children born to Roy and Myrtle Middleton. His brother Jack Middleton lives in Moravia and his sister Donna Armstrong lives in Anabel, Mo.
The family celebrated his life in a memorial service, Saturday, Sept. 8, at Trinity Methodist Church in Palm Beach Gardens. Memorial donations by check may be made to Palm Beach Gardens Youth Athletic Association in his honor, P.O. Box 31913, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420.
Obituaries
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Robert Gaylord Middleton Submitted photo
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October 14, 2012
Robert Gaylord Middleton
- Obituaries
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- Dylon Hinojosa Dylon Hinojosa, 23 months, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 22 at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville. Burial will follow in the Oakland Cemetery in Centerville. A visitation will
- Dylon Hinojosa Dylon Hinojosa, 23 months, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2013. Funeral services are pending at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville.
- Chris Boughner Chris Boughner, 33, of Kingman, Ariz., formerly of Centerville, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2013. Funeral services are pending at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville.
- Earl Eugene Arnold Earl Eugene Arnold, 68, of Live Oak, Fla. died Feb. 8, 2013 at his home. Services are pending at the Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville.
- Dale Bennett Dale Bennett, 58, of Centerville, Iowa passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013 at his residence. At his family's request, Dale has been cremated. A memorial service will be held at a later date. A memorial has been established to the Dale Bennett Memorial F
- Brian 'B.J.' Davis Brian "B.J." Davis, 51, of Centerville passed away Monday, May 13, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 17 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Centerville with the Rev. Jeremy McElvain off
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John Robert 'Bob' Walker, Jr.
John Robert "Bob" Walker, Jr., 83, of Mystic, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. Bob was born May 10, 1930 in Mystic, the son of John Robert and Jacquetta (Young) Walker, Sr. He graduated from high school in No
- Dale Bennett Dale Bennett, 58, of Centerville, passed away Sunday, May 12, 2013 at his residence. Funeral services are pending at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville.
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Betty D. Matelski
Betty D. Matelski, 85, of Davenport, passed away Wed-nesday, May 8, 2013 at Genesis East inDavenport. Services in celebration of her life were held at 5:15 p.m. Monday, May 13 at Weerts Funeral Home, Kimberly at Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport, where
- John Robert 'Bob' Walker Jr. John Robert "Bob" Walker Jr., 83, of Mystic, passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. Funeral services will be held 11:30 Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Lange Funeral Home and Crematory in Centerville. Burial will follo
- Joann Harwood Joann Harwood, 83, of Unionville, Mo., passed away Friday, May 10, 2013 at the Putnam County Memorial Hospital in Unionville, Mo. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14 at the Midway Baptist Church in Unionville, Mo. with Pastor
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Donald L. Kirby
Donald L. Kirby, 80, of Moulton, died Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the Bloomfield Care Center in Bloomfield. He was born the son of Erca and Bessie (Adams) Kirby on Nov. 23, 1932 near Moulton. He graduated from the Moulton Community High Schools in 1952.
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Harold 'Gene' Fowler
Harold "Gene" Fowler, 75, of Centerville, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at Centerville Nursing and Rehab Center in Centerville. He was born the son of Harold W. and Margaret (Matheson) Fowler on May 28, 1937 in Centerville. He graduated from the C
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Dorothy V. Gordon
Dorothy V. Gordon, 89, of Mason City, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at Heritage Care Center. A celebration of life was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 4 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Ave. with Pastor Kathy Graves offic
- Donald L. Kirby Donald L. Kirby, 80, of Moulton, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at the Bloomfield Care Center in Bloomfield. Services have been entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Moulton.
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