Robert I. "Bob" Towers

Robert Ira “Bob” Towers, age 78, of Reynoldsburg, OH, formerly of Honeoye Falls, NY, died Friday, August 10, 2018 at Mt. Carmel West Medical Center from complications after esophageal cancer surgery. Born November 24, 1939 in Colchester, VT, to the late Wright Loomis & Alida Mae (Bixby) Towers, Bob grew up in Woodsville, NH. He served in the U.S. Army, playing clarinet in the Army Band in southern Central America; worked at various hotels in FL, CA, VT, and retired in 2004 after a 22 year career with the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY. Bob and Carolyn met and were married at Park Lake Presbyterian Church in Orlando in 1973 and Bob worked for a catering company. Later they opened a floral shop – Carolyn’s Florist. On a wing and a prayer, in December 1981, they moved to Honeoye Falls, NY, where Bob began his career with Kodak. They attended the First Presbyterian Church of Honeoye Falls and gave their three children an idyllic childhood. After retirement for both, Bob and Carolyn moved to Reynoldsburg, OH, and joined the Broad Street United Methodist Church. His grandchildren’s biggest fan, the gardener with the greenest thumb, and a consummate musician who could play piano and pipe organ by ear, Bob never knew a stranger and he died as he lived, surrounded by friends and family, laughter and love. It was no surprise that after just a week in the hospital, a relative called the main switchboard of the medical center for an update and the volunteer operator said “oh yes, of course, I know Bob.” When all was said and done he was cancer free and he was grateful to know it.

Bob is survived by his wife of nearly 45 years, Carolyn Hoffman Towers; children, Kevin (Jessica) Towers, Middletown, MD, Kylie (Jeff) Smith, Columbus, Kari (Ren yu) Zhang, Las Vegas, NV; grandchildren, Clare & Cameron Towers, Brayden Zhang; sisters, Jane (Randy) Whitcher, Warren, NH, Judy (Bob) Roystan, Bath, NH, Kay (Bruce Stevenson) Towers, Middlesex, VT, Paula Haney, Orlando, FL; brother, David (Maretta) Towers, Grand Isle, VT; sisters in-law Cecile (Larry) Cozad, Mariann (Ken) Harlan, Julie Hoffman, and brother in-law David (Debbie) Hoffman; nieces, nephews, extended family, and countless friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 1, 2018 at 2:00 p.m., Bob and Carolyn’s 45th wedding anniversary, at the Broad Street United Methodist Church, 501 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43215, where the family will receive friends one hour prior. Interment will be later at Silent Home Cemetery in Reynoldsburg. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to either Broad Street United Methodist Church in Columbus or Honeoye Falls First Presbyterian Church in Bob’s memory. The family would like to give a special thanks to the staff at Mt. Carmel West ICU and the folks at Spence Funeral Home.