Robert E. "Bob" Marinelli

Robert E. “Bob” Marinelli, age 98, a lifelong resident of New Philadelphia, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2022, peacefully in his home.

Born February 20, 1924, he was a son of the late James and Virginia Mendini Marinelli. Bob attended school in New Philadelphia, and received an honorary high school diploma in October 2012. Bob served with the United States Army Company E, 44th Division, 71st Infantry in Europe during the Second World War. He was awarded two Purple Heart medals and an Oak Leaf Cluster for wounds he received during his service time, as well as the French Medal of Honor. Following his military discharge, Bob was employed by Marlite in Dover for 42 years, retiring in 1986. He also owned Bob’s Body & Paint Shop in New Philadelphia for over 50 years, and then operated a lawn mower repair business until he was 93.

He was a life member of the Carl C. Stoller Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in New Philadelphia. Bob loved playing golf, especially at Green Valley Golf Course, and had two holes-in-one during his lifetime. He was certainly a car buff, and raced at Midvale and other Ohio tracks. Bob captured the first checkered flag at Midvale in June of 1953. Additionally, Bob liked to bowl and his body shop sponsored a team for years.

He will be dearly missed by his two daughters, Robin (Richard) Buterbaugh of New Philadelphia, and Barbara (John) Sandy of Dover; his son, Gary (Jackie) Marinelli of Dover; his four grandchildren, Angela (Jason) Calkins, Katie (Jason) Farnsworth, Matthew (fiancee, Ashlyn Buehler) Sandy and Sierra (fiance, Gabe Zenoby) Sandy; his great-grandchildren, Carson and Cooper Farnsworth, Lilya and Sullivan Sandy; his sisters-in-law, Mary Marinelli and Sue McKerrihan; and his many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Erma McKerrihan Marinelli, in 2014; his sister, Zola Miller; his brothers, James, Louis and Donald Marinelli; his half-sister, Angie; and his half-brother, Leo Marinello.

Family and friends are invited to call at the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, Dover, on Monday, April 25, 5 - 7 p.m., and on Tuesday, April 26, 10 - 11 a.m. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11 in the funeral home with Rev. Terry Wilcox officiating. Burial will be in Dover’s Ridgecrest Memory Gardens, where military rites will be conducted. Following the committal, there will be a lunch in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Bob, please visit the Obituaries link on the Toland-Herzig website.

The family wishes to thank Bob’s V.A. caregivers and everyone at Community Hospice for their wonderful care and concern. In recognition, contributions to Community Hospice in Bob’s memory are suggested - 716 Commercial Ave. S.W., New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.