Robert Samuel Zettle, Sr., of Florence, died June 30, 2009.
A graveside service will be held Friday, July 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at Greenview Memorial Park with the Rev. Gary Formby officiating. The family will visit with friends there following the service.
He was born in Fowlersville, Pennsylvania and was the youngest of twelve children. He graduated from Berwick High School, Berwick, Pennsylvania and served in the United States Navy for three years in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.
He graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, obtained a Professional Engineer license and was employed by Tennessee Valley Authority. He retired in 1982 as Superintendent of the Power Service shops in Muscle Shoals.
He was an ordained deacon and taught Sunday school for forty years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Florence. Boards and committees he served on included the Administrative Board of First United Methodist Church, Board of Directors of the Cooperative Community Ministries, Supervisor for the Help Center, advisory board of the Salvation Army, Bi-Centennial Volunteers Board of Directors, as well as a reservist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He and his wife were founding members of the Day-by-Day group for parents of deceased children. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Jacqueline Kelly Zettle.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Kelly Zettle, son, Robert Samuel Zettle, Jr. and wife Serena and three grandchildren, Clinton, Lauren, and Hannah, of Houston, TX; brother Frank Zettle, State College, PA; sister, Gustavia Krug, Berwick, PA.
Pallbearers will be Clinton Zettle, Blair Robinson, Henry Ellison, T.H. Friday and James Underwood. Leon Mobbs, Bernard Zellner, Gene Kendrick, Tommy Pirkle and Dr. David Mussleman will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Our heartfelt gratitude is expressed to the management and staff of Mitchell Hollingsworth, especially station six, for their care and compassion.