Robert F. “Bob” O’Malley
Robert F. "Bob" O'Malley of Marietta passed away Friday, April 1, 2016, at Marietta Memorial Hospital. He was born July 13, 1923 at Dover, Ohio to Charles J. and Edith Williams O'Malley. He graduated from Martins Ferry High School, earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Indiana Institute of Technology, and took post-graduate studies at The Ohio State University and Northwestern University.
Bob was a proud U.S. Marine veteran of WWII, serving as a Sergeant in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He earned the Combat Action Ribbon with two bronze stars, along with the World War II medal, the Asiatic-Pacific campaign medal, and the American campaign medal. He was a member of V.F.W. Post 5108, American Legion Post 64, Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption – where he served as an usher for many years, the Knights of Columbus, the Parkersburg-Marietta chapter of the Marine Corps Leaugue, and other local and state organizations to which he belonged and served.
Mr. O'Malley moved to Marietta in 1952, assigned as Project Engineer to build the Washington Street Bridge and he and his family have called Marietta home since then. Bob was employed by the Ohio Department of Transportation for 36 years first in the Marietta District office then in the Columbus office as a District Engineer and Administrative Engineer for multiple districts. As a registered engineer and surveyor in Ohio he was active in local and state organizations and the National Society of Professional Engineers, serving twice as local president and five times as State Trustee. He was a Past president of the Ohio-West Virginia section, Institute of Transportation Engineers and a founding member of the 4-state ITE District 3. He was a Fellow and Life member of the International ITE and was listed in "Who's Who in Engineering".
Bob was very active in the community and the Mid-Ohio Valley, serving in various capacities for several philanthropic, civil, and charitable organizations. He was twice elected to Marietta City Council (1986-'89) and served four terms as City Council President (1992 – '99). He served for 11 years on the Marietta City Traffic Commission and was a member of the Washington County Bridges, Road, and Infrastructure Committee.
Bob was married for 58 years to his beloved wife Margaret (Margie) until her death in 2004. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his only brother William. He is survived by his 3 sons, Daniel (Linda) of Columbia, S.C, Mark and Gary, both of metro Atlanta, GA, daughter Laurie Ann of Perrysburg, OH, and 4 grandchildren (Michael, Jason, David, and Brian).
A special military service will be held on Tuesday evening (April 5) at 7:00 pm at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home. The family will greet friends at the funeral home before the service from 5:00 until 7. Messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Bob’s memory to the Parkersburg-Marietta Marine Corps League, c/o of the funeral home.