Robert Stewart Hovermale

Robert "Bob" Stewart Hovermale, 89, of Pittsboro, Indiana, formerly of Bellaire, Michigan, and Jamestown, Indiana, passed away on June 5, 2017.

Bob was born March 27, 1928 in Ann Arbor, MI, to the late Harry and Lucille (Woodruff Merrifield) Hovermale. At age 1, Bob and his family moved to Jamestown, Indiana, Harry's hometown. Bob attended grade school and high school in Jamestown, where he played on the basketball and baseball teams, graduating in 1946.

As a boy, Bob once acted as fishing guide and golf caddy to General Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Hiawatha Sporting Club in northern Michigan. On February 11, 1948, Bob married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Gaynell Plikerd.

Bob worked at the Jamestown Standard Station and the Hovermale and Hedge International Harvester Dealership. He was the co-owner, builder and proprietor of the Tomahawk Hills Golf Course in Jamestown, and served as a ranger at the Chief Golf Course in Bellaire.

Bob enjoyed golfing, fishing, boat racing and automobile racing. He loved dogs and tolerated cats. In 1955 Bob won a World Championship in outboard hydroplane racing. In the late ‘70s and early '80s Bob was co-owner of a World of Outlaws Sprint Car which was driven by former Jamestown resident, Lee Osborne. Bob and Gaynell enjoyed traveling throughout the country with the World of Outlaws.

Bob and Gaynell retired to Bellaire, MI in 1982; in 2014 they moved to Pittsboro, IN, to be near their son, Rick, who took loving care of both. Gaynell preceded Bob in death, as well as one great-granddaughter, Arianna Golday.

Bob leaves behind and will be missed by his daughter, Christina (Greg) Golday of Chesterton, IN; two sons, Robert F. (Betsy) Hovermale of Colorado Springs, CO, and Eric (Kelly) Hovermale of Pittsboro, IN; five grandsons, Jason (Melissa) Golday and Justin (Sumer) Golday; Ryan, Cory, and Bret Hovermale; and great-grandaughter, Brooklyn Golday.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

The family wishes to thank the Brownsburg Meadows Health Care Facility and Heart to Heart Hospice Care.