Robert Rhea

Robert Alden (Bob) Rhea, 84, of Anderson, passed away June 23, 2015 at the Community Heart and Vascular Hospital in Indianapolis.

Bob was born May 28, 1931, in Anderson. He retired from Delco-Remy in 1988 after 38 years of employment. After retirement he worked for Walbridge Construction and Manifold Refuse. He served in the Anderson Auxiliary Police from 1966 to 1971 as a reserve officer and Colonel.

Bob was known for his great sense of humor and enjoyed telling jokes and having fun. He was the creator and owner of Bob’s Bumpy Barrels. Over the years Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, building and racing go-carts, collecting antique tractors, farming, and his greatest passion was his profession of welding.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Wanda (Thomas) Rhea; children, Vicki Higgenbottom, Deborah (David) Shelley, Cathy (Randy) McCune, Pam (Rip) Denman, Rebecca (Mike Henry) Rhea, & James (Barbie) Rhea; grandchildren, Charles (Jenifer) Caswell Jr., Michael (Saundra) Breil, Amy Johnson, Bethany Breil, Cathy Sullivan, Robert (Lisa) Jones, Cristy Woolard, Dusty (Darick) Underwood, Nathan (Angela) Denman, Nikia (Ryan) Beeson, Samantha (Brady) Barnes, & Chelsea Rhea; great grandchildren, Zachery, Justin, Tori, Abi, Jordan, Michael Jr., Gage, Talisha, Ashley, Devon, Skylar, Fayelin, Logan, Kyle, Melissa, Kaley, Jessica, Joshua, Kaleb, Austin, Macy, Maverick, Chelsta, & Callee; great-great grandchildren: Zariah, Serenity, Chance, Emma, Hunter, Lillian, Sophia, Luke, & William; sister, Marilyn (Bill Jones) Thomas.

He was preceded in death by his father Frank and step-mother Helen (Keesling) Rhea, and mother Doris (Phelps) and step-father John Spurling; daughter, Judith Rhea; granddaughter, Melissa Kay Jones; grandson, Scott James Rhea; and brother Paul Rhea.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday, June 29, 2015 at the Brown-Butz-Diedring Funeral Service & Crematory. Officiated by Bill Hilligoss. Burial will follow at Mechanicsburg Cemetery.

Visitation will be 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at the funeral home.