Bob grew up in Avon and joined the army right out of high school. After learning he would be deployed to France (France was in NATO at the time), he and Joan Goodberlet decided to marry. They spent three years in France and traveled to many of Europe’s sights: the French Riviera, Monaco, the mountains of Germany, to Venice for a gondola ride and the Tower of Pisa. Bob says that was so long ago the tower wasn’t leaning quite as much as today and they walked the stairs to the top. Returning to the states, Bob worked for Friden typewriter, Super Foods (IGA distributor) and retired in 1999 after 30 years with Specialized Printed Forms in Caledonia. Bob has worked for Avon UMC for 10 years. Bob and Joan raised three children in Avon: Steve, Andy, and Lisa.​