grave import

Obituary

Robert (Bob) Bohm was born October 8, 1920 in Lorain, Ohio to Lawrence and May Taylor Bohm. He had one brother, Larry. He met and married Jeanne Metzger, the love of his life and had a happy and successful sixty-five-year marriage. When she died five years ago she was cremated and will be buried with him in his arms as a symbol that he will hold her for eternity. He was loved and adored by his daughter and son-in-law Chris and Alain Arroyo, his granddaughters Elizabeth Green (John Paul) and Emilie Anderson (Michael) and it brought him great happiness anticipating the birth of his great grandson, John Peyton Green. He had a successful career as an educator, beginning his career as a teacher and basketball coach, going on to become a superintendent of schools, and transitioned into retirement teaching prisoners at the Iowa State Penitentiary. He shared his beautiful tenor voice with church choirs and his beloved Miamians Barbershop Quartet group. With all of the accomplishments and successes that come from a long, fulfilled life, he was most proud of his service to his country. Bob was a decorated WW II hero, receiving four Bronze Stars, two Presidential Citations, the Purple Heart, and The Legion of Honor Award from France. He fought for the freedom of all and in the end it was not a coincidence that those he served were serving him - the black Muslim nurse who never left his side during a time of crisis; the first generation immigrant nurses aids who tenderly bathed, dressed and fed him; the Puerto Rican social worker who fought to get him every benefit he was entitled to receive; and his Jewish doctor whose brilliance and compassion insured him of a long and quality life. Bob never believed he was supreme because he was white, superior because he was a male, and his deep faith would never allow him to believe that he was somehow more favorable to God because he was a Christian. He was a man who truly knew what it was to love others. He leaves his life debt free - not owing anyone a penny or an apology. While we will mourn the absence of his physical being, we can only celebrate the life that he had, the lives that he touched, and the positive difference he made in this world. Gifts in honor of his memory can be made to One Mind, 120 Lakeside Ave. Suite 200, Seattle WA 98122. Services will be held at Grace Methodist Church on Tuesday, December 20 at 2 p.m. Full military rites will be at the end of the service followed by internment at Aspen Grove Cemetery.