Obituary
Dr. Robert D. Furrow – May 13, 1932 – April 24, 2020
Dr. Robert D. “Bob” Furrow, of Cape Coral Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 24, 2020 after a brief illness. He was born in Glen Morgan, West Virginia on May 13, 1932, to Mary Ethyl (Cole) and Joseph L. Furrow.
Bob graduated from Shady Spring High School in 1950, and entered the Navy where he served as an air traffic control tower operator. After an honorable discharge in 1954 he entered The Ohio State University, graduating with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1960. He completed post-doctoral studies in avian medicine at University of Missouri in 1968 and later became a board certified veterinary pathologist.
He married his beloved Martha Carper in 1957. Together they had three children.
Dr. Furrow started his career in private practice in West Virginia, eventually working for the United States Department of Agriculture and then the US Food and Drug Administration. He retired in 1994 as the Deputy Director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine.
Upon retirement Bob and Martha became “snowbirds” splitting their time between Pine Island Florida, Maryland and West Virginia. They became permanent residents of Florida in 1997 and moved from Pine Island to Cape Coral in 2008. Bob and Martha were active in Fort Myers Christian Church.
Bob was predeceased by his parents, brothers Howard, Harold and John, and sisters Martha Bowen and Rosalie Lamphier.
He is survived by his wife Martha; his sisters Emma Jane Genoble, Billie Campbell, Carol Herring and Mary Smallwood; his children Michael (Janet) Furrow, Gregory (Janie) Furrow and Susan (Eamon) Cusack. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren (plus one on the way) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Due to current restrictions, no services have been planned. A memorial service will be scheduled at an appropriate time in the future.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Fort Myers Christian Church; 5916 Winkler Road; Fort Myers, FL 33919.
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