Robert Everson Heightley, 89, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2024. Bob was the son of Robert & Sarah Kathleen Heightley. He was born on February 16,1935, in Johnstown, PA. He lived there while serving in the U.S. Navy form 1953-1957.
After his deployment, he attended Penn State University. When he took the entrance exam, he was told that he passed the vocabulary section with the best score ever. (He read the dictionary in his spare time, while on the USS Meredith). He always loved using interesting words! He graduated in 1961 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
In 1960, Bob married the “literal” love of his entire life, Marilyn L. Edmonds. She lived across the alley when they were growing up and he journaled that he used to watch her, lay in the sun on her roof, with his binoculars! In 1962, he went to work for General Electric. He was sent to school to learn the 412L NATO System. After completion, he was transferred to Germany where they lived from 1962-1966. While in Germany, they had 3 children, Jody, Sean & Paul. They enjoyed traveling and made lots of lifetime friends. In 1966, they returned to the U.S. and resided in Bethany, OK. Carrie was born in 1967 and they remained in that same home for the rest of their lives.
After his time with General Electric, he worked for Honeywell, Control Data, Magnetic Peripheral, Inc., Monotronics, and retired from BancTec in 1994. He logged thousands of airline miles selling and setting up check sorter technology, in banks, all over the world.
There are many words that describe our dad and grandpa. Christian, teacher, coach, kind, strong, positive, loyal, stoic, smart, organized (crazy organized!), hardworking, loving, generous, patient, and joyful. So many more wonderful qualities but, most of all, he was a great dad & grandpa. He always showed up! He loved to garden and would work all day on the property behind their house. He checked off all the chores on his daily list but was always willing to take a break for a cup of Kool-Aid or coffee whenever we went over to find him. He always made time for all of us. We will miss him terribly but take comfort in the knowledge that he is whole again, in the arms of Jesus, and is no longer looking for Marilyn.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Marilyn LaVerne, his parents, Robert & Sarah Kathleen Heightley, and his brother, John Heightley. He is survived by his 4 children, Jody (Phil) Sharp, Sean Heightley, Paul Heightley, Carrie (Donnie) Schimmels, 6 grandchildren, Tyler (Gabrielle) Sharp, Tory (Michael) Thomas, Jacob, Grayson & Luke Schimmels, Mackenzie Heightley, 3 great grandchildren, Beckett & Tate Sharp, Olivia Thomas, and 2 nieces, Kate Heightley & Jennifer (Peter) Abe.
We would like to thank the staff at Vitality Village for their care. We would also like to thank all the Traditions Hospice staff, especially Becky & Jeremy. They were such a blessing to us and treated our dad with such dignity, kindness & respect.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 8701 NW Expressway Oklahoma City, OK 73162.
