Robert D. Relos

The 90-year-old gentle soul of Robert D. Relos went to his eternal rest at 11:35 PM on Thursday, March 2nd, 2023. Bob will be very much missed. His family was his life and he loved and was loved by them all. Bob was a great dad and was always present and accounted for at his kids’ many activities.

Bob was born on his grandparent’s farm in Oakwood, Illinois on July 18, 1932. He was the third of four boys born to Beatrice Elena (Eldridge) and Peter Demetrius Relos. His love of horses developed while growing up on their farm near Grovertown Indiana.

Bob graduated from Lincoln High School in Plymouth and went to work for Studebaker. In 1952 he joined the US Navy and spent three years at the Norfolk Air Station where he was an Aviation Store Keeper and a member of the Blue Jacket Guard. In 1955 he helped put the USS Forrestal in commission and is a plank owner of the Forrestal CVA59. Leaving the Navy in 1956 as a Petty Officer Third Class he served another four years in the Naval Reserve.

In October of 1956, he returned to Studebaker, got married, and had two sons, Robert William and Thomas Michael, and a daughter Donna Lynn. His last job at Studebaker was painting the Avanti.

Early in 1963, Bob took a Construction Helper’s job at Nipsco, where he worked his way through the ranks. In 1981 he was promoted to Transmission Maintenance Supervisor in the Gas Operations Department, taking care of the transmission pipelines in five districts. He attended Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, PA, and then retired from Nipsco in 1988.

After retiring, Bob was involved with Mahoney Chevrolet-Olds in Walkerton. He was a member of Post 189 American Legion, the Director’s Club of the Wagon Wheel Theater in Warsaw, the Walkerton United Methodist Church where he worked with their Youth Group for several years and was actively involved with the Michiana Mustang Club. He and his son Bob showed their Mustang cars all over, taking many 1st place awards and three Golds. His ‘69 Mustang convertible was his favorite.

Bob is survived by his brother Michael Relos of Plymouth, his friend of 30+ years Linda Relos, nephews William, Kenneth, and Donald Relos of Plymouth, nephew David Relos of South Bend, nieces Cathy Phend and Mindy Penrose of Plymouth, and niece Robin Marshall of Columbus.

Preceding him in death were his two sons Robert (2004) and infant son Thomas (1959), daughter Donna Noble (2010), granddaughter Elizabeth Noble (2023), brother and sister-in-law William P. and Catherine L. Relos, brother James Relos, and his parents Beatrice and Peter Relos.

The family would like to thank the staff of Miller’s Merry Manor in Plymouth and the Center for Hospice for their enduring support and care of Bob.

Visitation will be held on the morning of Friday, March 10, 2023, from 11:00 – 1:00 at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Charles Krieg officiating, with burial in the New Oak Hill Cemetery, Plymouth, where Bob will be laid to rest in the same row and at the same time as his granddaughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Noble who passed away on January 3, 2023.

Military Honors will be provided by members of the American Legion Post 27, Veterans of Foreign War- Marshall County Post 1162, and Disabled American Veteran Chapter 42.

Memorial contributions can be made to Center for Hospice Care 112 S. Center St. Plymouth IN 46563 or Michiana Mustangs Car Club, C/O David Yoder, 1155 North Center St., Bremen, IN. 46506