Robert Bruce Gregory (93) slipped peacefully into the presence of God on June 28, 2023 at his home in Peachtree City, GA. He is preceded in death by his beloved bride Lois, his brother Jesse, and sister Winifred. The legacy Bob leaves transcends generations.
Bob was born on December 13, 1929 in Arlington, VA to Jesse Forrest and Martha Townsend Gregory. A devoted American, he served in the US Navy from 1947-1949 aboard the USS Iowa.
Bob married the love of his life, Lois Kolyer, in 1951 and considered it an honor to spend the next 65 years by her side.
After graduating from The Ohio State University in 1952 with a degree in engineering, he became an innovator in the field of injection molding, holding several patents. Bob was recognized as an expert in the plastic industry, earning awards from TAPPI and the Society of Plastics Engineers.
He loved mathematics and astronomy, flying his single engine planes, golf, sailing, and yachting, and remained active in an amateur radio club until his final years.
He shared his wife’s interest in genealogy and spent countless hours documenting his family’s history with Lois. From Berlin to Bethlehem, Skagway to Shanghai, Bob and Lois also traveled the world.
Bob and Lois forged a partnership rooted in deep faith and abiding love. They lived their faith intentionally wherever they resided — Ohio, New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and finally in Georgia, where Bob was an active member of Evergreen Church in Peachtree City.
He was blessed by his fellow believers who encouraged each other to mature together as followers of Christ until their last breath, and Bob embodied this, teaching Sunday School into his 9th decade.
He served his community, both inside and outside the church, by participating in and supporting ministries such as driving children to hospitals with the Shriners, helping food banks, serving on school boards, and advising those seeking to start businesses through SCORE.
While Bob’s accomplishments were many, he was most proud of his family, whom he loved deeply. He and Lois were blessed with four children, fourteen grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren. They all called him Grandpa Bob and loved coming to see him.
After the passing of his wife, Bob’s greatest joys were in spending time with his family. Highlights in later years included taking a tour of Pearl Harbor with his children and grandchildren, celebrating the marriages of three of his grandchildren and one great grandchild, meeting his youngest great great grandchildren Colt and Quinnie two weeks before he passed, and holding his youngest great grandchild Caroline, who was 8 weeks old, just two days before he passed.
Bob’s biggest legacy was his family. He is survived by his children and grandchildren Scott and Carol Gregory (Katie and Bret Thomas, Charlie Gregory, and Chris and Christi Gregory), Rob and Sim Gregory (Mei Ning and Bob Langworthy, Peter and Cari Gregory, Mei Shen and Jim Edwards, David and Jamilah Gregory), Pat and Reinhard Ketsche (Janice Ketsche and Gus Peterson, Nancy and Caleb Brenneman, Linda and Sam Williamson, Karen and Mike Psiaki) and Nancy and Paul Goldstein (Nicole and Max Poe, Laura Goldstein and Arthur Flanders, Matt and Kat Goldstein).
His 36 great grandchildren are Daniel (Shandra), Hannah, and Peter; Hope (Jacob Ladd), Josiah, Grace, and Joshua; David, Micah, Danny, and Matthias; Robby, Abby, Andrew, Annie, and Sarah; Lydia, Naomi, and Elli; Simona, Andreas, Maria, Jonas, and Markus; Bennett, Clara, Maxwell, and Timothy; Jacob, Daniel, and Thomas; Luke, Grace, and Caroline; Isaac and Jonas. His great great grandchildren are Jackson, Colt, and Quinnie. These 76 people and many more will miss Bob’s generous spirit, unwavering faith, and exemplary love.
There will be a celebration of Bob’s life at Evergreen Church in Peachtree City on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at 4:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Evergreen Church or to the Salvation Army.
