In loving memory of
Robert Speer

• August 27, 1924
• -
• January 13, 2020

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Robert Maurice Speer, 95, died after a short illness, January 13, 2020 in Daytona Beach, FL. He was born, August 27, 1924, in Round Hill, VA, the son of Dorothy Lee Mansfield Speer and Thomas Spencer Speer. Despite holding many jobs due to the great depression, Bob graduated as salutatorian of his high school class. He served as a hospital corpsman US Naval 21^st Marines Third Marine Division on Guam during WW II. After his honorable discharge, he attended Hobart College and the University of Rochester where he received a BS in Accounting in 1949. He went on to obtain a MA in Economics from The University of Rochester in 1956.

Bob married Mary Louise Merkel on June 21, 1947 at Colgate Rochester Divinity School. They made their home in Irondequoit, NY where they raised their three sons. Bob and Mary were married for 48 years until her death in 1995. They enjoyed square dancing and spending time traveling with their family.

Bob worked as an accounting manager at the Rochester Telephone Company for 21 years. During the 1970’s he owned a campground and marina in Lyndonville, New York. He also had his own independent licensed public accounting firm from 1961 – 2012.

He was a lifetime member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, active in the United Flying Octogenarians, having received his private pilot’s license at age 56, and in recent years enjoyed the fellowship and activities at VFW Post 3282 Port Orange, FL. He was a friend of Cross Creek Community Church in New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Bob was a warm and hospitable man with an infectious smile and a positive outlook on life. Friends and family will remember him for his quick wit and his great sense of humor. He was truly one of a kind!

He is survived by his three sons, Charles (Susan) of Webster, NY, James (Lin) of Marina del Rey, CA and John (Margie) of Newark, DE and five grandchildren: Loraine, Veronica, Kevin, Sarah and Qin (Hongda); and one great-grandchild, Olivia, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial for Bob’s life will be held at a later date.