ERIE, PENNSYLVAINIA - Bob Myers, 89, formerly of Franklin, passed away Monday, Nov. 9, 2020 at UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie. He was born on April 11, 1931 in Franklin, and was the son of the late Leonard J. and Kathryn (Hyatt) Myers.
Bob was a member of Asbury Methodist Church and president of the Macon County Methodist Youth Fellowship. He graduated from Franklin High School in the Class of 1949 and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received a bachelor’s degree and continued to do graduate work. Also, Bob served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War with the 31st Infantry Division.
In 1957 he was employed with General Telephone Directory Co. in Durham, in the Yellow Pages sales division. In 1961 he was promoted to district sales manager and transferred to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he held various positions until his retirement in May 1987 from GTE Directories.
Bob was a member of the National Sales Executive Club and The Gold Directory Club, where he was a President’s Award winner. He was a volunteer legislative assistant to State Rep. Karl Boyes for 16 years. Bob and his wife, Patti, were active in the Erie County Republican Party for a number of years. They were members of the executive board and committee members of Millcreek, where Bob was chairman for several years. They were also dedicated members of First United Methodist Church of Erie, where Bob served in several capacities. Lastly, was also an ardent fan of the UNC Tar Heel football and basketball teams.
Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his daughter, Diana Myers Dennis, in July 2007.
Survivors include his loving wife of 50 years, Patti; his daughters, Gayle Eckstein of Woodstock, Georgia and Leigh Battles of Meadville, Pennsylvania; a son, Craig Myers, wife Angie, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; a brother, Dale L. Myers, wife Sandra, of Franklin; and a sister, Carolyn Myers McKeown, husband Dr. Patrick McKeown, of Fort Myers Beach, Florida; two nieces, Allison Hulse, husband Dwain Hulse of Fort Worth, Texas, Dr. Ashley McKeown, husband Dr. Todd Ahlman of New Braunfels, Texas; and two nephews, Lenny Myers, wife Stacey, of Atlanta, and Christopher McKeown of Athens, Georgia. He leaves 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
A private family service was held Saturday, Nov. 14 at Brugger Funeral Homes & Crematory in Erie with graveside services also following at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery.