Along with his family and countless others impacted by his remarkable life, our team is celebrating the life of our dear friend and client, Robert L. Dawes – to us, Bob.

Born in 1937 in Pittsburgh, Bob was raised in a strong Catholic family and though he lost his father at an early age, his uncle, mother and others helped instill in him a strong Christian faith and a strong work ethic.

Graduating from Mount St. Mary’s University in 1960, it was there that Bob met the love of his life, Marie, and they were married soon after. While serving in the Air National Guard, Bob joined the Ford Motor Company – a relationship that continued the rest of his life. Beginning in sales and marketing, Bob rose to become a field manager and in 1967 he and Marie and their young family moved to Ford’s corporate offices in Detroit. There he met Boyd Fackler and while offered outstanding opportunities to grow within Ford, they chose to enter the dealer development program and were given an opportunity to begin their own dealership in Columbus – Bob-Boyd Lincoln Mercury, in 1970.

Bob and Boyd spent a lifetime in business together, acquiring other dealerships and becoming one of the longest tenured partnerships in the automotive industry. In 1992 Bob was voted Chairman of the Lincoln Mercury National Dealer Council. After successfully transferring the business to his children, Bob retired at the age of 70. The following year (2015) he was the commencement speaker at Ohio Dominican University at which he shared three keys to a successful life: live in truth, have a plan; and give till it hurts. Great advice for all of us!!

I (Matt) was so blessed to know Bob for over 30 years and came to respect and love him as a cherished friend and valued mentor. He was loving, generous, positive, encouraging, and hope filled and brought incredible goodness, joy and gratitude to everyone he knew. His life was a testament to the powerful impact one person can have on so many. He had a million-dollar smile and always was more interested in the person he was with rather than himself. In short, he was amazing, making his life a total gift of self.

Bob’s greatest legacy is not his business but his strong faith in Christ and his family. He was preceded in death by his beloved Marie. Together they raised four children (Bobby, Bill, Mary Beth, and Becky) and were blessed with 11 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren (so far).

I so admired the way he treated Marie – he loved her so powerfully. I can remember when they would come in together for meetings in our offices being so touched by the way he looked at Marie when she was speaking – totally focused on her with a huge smile. He simply loved her in the best ways possible and could have done a clinic for the rest of us on how to love a spouse. His love for his children and their families was beautiful – he was so proud of all of them and loved to be with them.

For me, Bob was a model husband, father, business owner, and leader – always leading from the front but always serving those he led and deflecting praise to them. He was great with his team and great with his customers and had this tremendous gift of investing in relationships. I’m sure there were hundreds of us who thought we were his best friend.

His daughter Becky shared a story that encapsulates her father’s life. It was back in 2004, and they were together in Hilton Head, their family’s special place. Becky’s husband Mike’s father had just passed, and it was a difficult time for Becky and Mike and their children as they grieved their loss. In talking about his death, Bob asked Becky if she was afraid to die and she admitted that she was terrified. He assured her that it was understandable, especially as a young wife and mother. But then he reminded her that to know Christ was to not fear death. He encouraged her to make her life’s mission, her greatest purpose, one of knowing and loving Jesus more and more so that when death did come, she would no longer be afraid. Wow… what a gift to give to her.

Bob, we miss you, but we’re so thankful to God for your life and to you for living that life with such faith, goodness and joy!  Bob’s life is a reminder to all of us that we can direct our lives however we wish. He chose well – hopefully we do the same!!