Robert H. Blessing Sr.

Robert H. Blessing Sr., 90 of Elkhart, died at 10:30 pm, March 19, 2011 at his home.

He was born July 8, 1920 in Elkhart to Frederick A. and Beulah (Schlotterback) Blessing and married Ida Louise Smeltzer on August 25, 1941 in Angola, Indiana. She preceded in death on November 30, 2009. Surviving are 3 sons, Robert H. (Elizabeth) Blessing II, of Floyds Knobs, IN, Richard A. (Ann) Blessing of Clarksville, IN, and Ronald D. (Kathy) Blessing of Elkhart; 2 daughters, Deborah J. (Donald) Oberloh of South Bend and Denise L. (Bryan) Baughman of Niles, MI; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Carroll, Stanton, and Theodore Blessing and a sister, Ellen.

Mr. Blessing owned and operated the F.A. Blessing and Sons Shoe Store in Elkhart and was a member of Faith United Methodist Church, the Elkhart Noon Optimist Club, the Mineral Society, and the Mr. and Mrs. Club. He was a rock hound and loved to fish and golf. He attended Purdue University and served in the U.S. Army-Air Corps during World War II.

Family and friends may call from 2-4 & 6-8 pm Wednesday at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home at Cobblestone Crossing, Elkhart where services will be held at 11 am Thursday. Reverend Larry W. Kurtz will officiate. Burial will follow at Rice Cemetery where military honors will be rendered by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and the D.A.V. # 19, Elkhart.

Memorials may be given to Faith United Methodist Church or the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. Visit www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com to sign an online guestbook.