Robert L. Putnam

PUTNAM, Robert L. “Bob”

Age 93, of Phillipsburg, passed away on Friday, March 19, 2021 at Hospice of Dayton. Born in Sharonville, OH, to the late Andrew & Belle Putnam, he was raised in Mason, OH.

He was preceded in death by his parents & 5 siblings, Howard, Jim, Jack & Covely Putnam, and Wyllodean Walker.

He was a US Army veteran of both WWII & Korea, serving in the 11th Airborne Division, he volunteered to be a paratrooper. He served in the occupation of Japan during WWII and then re-enlisted during the Korean War. He was badly injured in a training exercise in 1955 and he earned 2 Honorable Discharges.

He served the Village of Phillipsburg as Police Chief in the 1960’s and he retired as a Deputy Sheriff with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Dept in 1988. During his time with the Sheriff’s Dept. he also served as a security guard for a Dayton area Dept. store, a hotel & a farmer’s market for over 25 years. He was a member of the FOP, DAV, VFW, NRA, Brookville Masonic Lodge and he was a former member of the Phillipsburg Rotary Club. After his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, gardening, growing vegetables to give away to friends and neighbors, playing the lottery, entering the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, walking, exercising, feeding and watching birds, sitting on the patio or front porch, flying his American Flag in the front yard and spending time with his family.

Bob is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Ann; children, Anita Scholz, Patrick & Paul Putnam; grandchildren, Matt (Keri) Scholz, Pierce Putnam & Michelle Scholz; great-grandchildren, Jack & Brice Scholz; sisters, Phyllis Maddox, Glenna Booker & Anna Mae Lakes, along with numerous other relatives and friends. Robert loved his family dearly. He always tried to put them first, and he did whatever he could to help them succeed. He dealt with his back injury with the grit, determination and toughness of an American WWII Paratrooper. He decided early on that he “would not allow the injury to control his life… he would control it instead.” We love you dad, Thank you for teaching us honesty and integrity and to always try to do the right thing. Thank you for being the best husband, dad, and grandfather we could possibly have. We are forever grateful.

A public graveside service will be held at 1:30 pm Fri. March 26 at Bethel Cemetery, located between Phillipsburg & Union. Due to national health concerns, Bob’s funeral service will be private.

If desired, donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton or D.A.V.

The Putnam family would also like to thank everyone at Miami Valley Hospital ER & ICU and Hospice of Dayton, for the loving care they showed both to dad and all of us. Arrangements are in care of the GILBERT-FELLERS FUNERAL HOME, 950 ALBERT ROAD, BROOKVILLE. E-mail condolences may be sent by going online to www.gilbert-fellers.com