Mr. Robert Ramsey Nedblake, 78, of Ellijay, formerly of Gahanna, Ohio, passed away suddenly Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021, after contracting COVID-19.
He was an easy target for the virus having been diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis in May.
He is preceded in death by parents, Clayton and Marcela Nedblake; and ex-wife, Penny Nedblake.
He is survived by son, Jeff and wife, Leah, their children, Sara and Colin; niece, Bonnie Schmidt and her children, Kelsey and Drew, along with niece Kim Costo and family. In addition, he is survived by the many special friends made in Ohio and Georgia.
At work and at play, Bob never knew a stranger and was a loyal confidant. He worked as a sales professional for many years in the photocopier and automobile industries and particularly enjoyed delivering NAPA Auto Parts inventory for rural stores in North Central Ohio.
During his leisure time, his love for flying was fueled by washing the owner’s plane in exchange for flight time in pursuit of a pilot’s license. He also had a propensity for tinkering on small engines, and his neighbors often counted on him to get their lawnmowers in working order when they themselves were at their wit’s end.
Gathering with friends made at the local classic car and classic scooter clubs was a favorite pastime as evidenced by decades of Hemming’s Motor News memorabilia.
Despite the Atlanta traffic, he relished traveling to watch his grandchildren Sara and Colin play sports and to celebrate special occasions. The friendship he forged with Derrick Williams from the soccer community during the games was especially important to Bob. Though he never hit the super lotto with those same numbers he played religiously for years, his family rests well knowing he decided all those people getting up early to attend church on Sundays weren’t so crazy after all.
With the help of his friend, Kris Morris and inspired by the many people he saw walking the walk such as the Bailey family from Columbus, Ohio, and Bo Sanford and Duell Sanford from Ellijay, Bob finally made the choice to say yes to the only question we need to get correct in our lives. Our heavenly Father brought him home within a day of Bob’s accepting that the unexplainable is undeniable, and he exchanged one day of trust from Bob for an eternity in heaven.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude for the care and compassion shown by the Gilmer County Health Care community, including the great staff at Parkside Center for Nursing & Rehab and the Cameron Hall retirement community. They would like to convey special appreciation to Dr. Melanie Clemmons, who Bob adored, for her unparalleled concern.
The family invites anyone who would like to join them at the Little Bobby Pavilion at the north end of the park in Elljay, Sunday, Sept. 12, at 3 p.m., while they smile and share memories of Bob.
His remains will be buried in a private ceremony at a later date. If desired, donations can be made to your favorite animal shelter in Bob’s memory.