Robert Charles Vernon

Robert Charles Vernon, 96, of Marietta, died on January 20, 2020, at Marietta Memorial Hospital. He was adopted by Dr. G. V. and Bernice Vernon, and grew up in Akron, Ohio. After high school, Bob learned to hand-form aluminum for airplanes, working (then training others) in the same huge Goodyear Aircraft building in Akron where the dirigibles docked. He also trained more than 100 “Rosie the Riveters”, working out the best order to assemble all the parts for a B-26 bomber. After the Pearl Harbor attack, Bob enlisted in the U. S. Marines Corps. He served in the South Pacific during World War II, attaining Master Technical Sergeant rank.

After the war, Bob married “Ronnie”, the girl who waited for him; they were married 54 years. Thanks to the G.I. Bill, Bob earned a B. A. and M.A. from the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, and taught music in several colleges and high schools over several decades. He also directed many church choirs.

When his father became ill, Bob moved the family to Akron, changed careers to civil engineering, and became a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in the early 1960s. He and Ronnie moved to Marietta in the late 1960s to work in the R/W Dept at the local Division Dept of Transportation.

Bob opened a surveying business in the early 1970s and his son soon joined him. They completed thousands of projects during the next four decades, including setting the location for a hundred miles of interstate highways in several States, and locating bridge piers and ramps for the Y bridge in Lowell and the bridge between St. Mary’s, WV and Newport, OH.

Bob was a long-time member of Christ United Methodist Church in Marietta, where he directed 3 Christian musical performances in the 1980s, and then was a long-time attendee of the First Baptist Church of Marietta.

Bob is survived by son Robert G Vernon (Jamie) of Devola, daughter Dawne Vernon of Maryland, four granddaughters, and six great-grandchildren.

Celebration of his life will be held at 2PM Saturday, January 25, 2020 at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with the Rev. Chad Mugrage officiating. Visitation hours will be 12 – 2 PM prior to the service. Burial will follow at a later date at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. Remembrances may be made by visiting ww.Lankfordfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s name could be made to the charity of your choice.

The family would like to thank the wonderful, caring people at the Reno VA Clinic, Marietta Memorial Hospital, and Harmar Place Rehab.