Robert Blome

Robert C. Blome Robert "Pop" Blome, aged 90, of Indianapolis, IN passed away at home on Friday, August 19 2022. Robert was born in Evanston, IL to loving parents Chester Blome and Alice (McFerran) Blome. Robert excelled at Purdue University and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. At Purdue he met his wife and life partner of 65 years, Margaret (McColl) Blome. Bob and Margaret were married in 1957 and have resided in Indianapolis since then. Bob and Margaret loved and raised three children, Scott Blome, Barbara Jean Blome, and Mary Beth (Blome) Ropar. Robert and Margaret rose to several family challenges, including raising Barbara Jean, a daughter with multiple disabilities. They were pioneers in insisting on services for their disabled daughter in the 1960s and 1970s. Bob was known for wanting his family to be safe, and was an early adopter of many safety innovations. Robert’s career spanned many decades at Indiana Bell Telephone (AT&T). At the beginning he worked with the early room-sized computers. Later he worked in accounting. One of the largest corporate breakups ever mandated by the federal government was the dissolution of AT&T into multiple companies, effective in 1984. Robert was one of thousands of AT&T employees who worked to complete this massive federal mandate. Bob was well known for his unique personality and several passionate interests. He was very interested in audio and video recording and he had a distinctive, smooth "radio voice." He made early broadcasts from Purdue University’s student radio station. He had a passion for classical and religious music and he sometimes narrated notes about the compositions onto recordings. He was active with his church and assisted with the audio/video at church. Bob will certainly be remembered for his passion for trains, which began when he was a child riding Chicago interurban cars. He was a volunteer for over 40 years at the former Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville IN. He had many key roles at the museum, but Bob was well known by many as a conductor on the Indiana Fair Train. He created an extensive HO-scale train village in his home. Robert was known far and wide for his "corny" sense of humor -- "Dad jokes" were his stock-and-trade. One seldom escaped a conversation with him without being regaled with one or two "groaners." Robert is survived by his wife Margaret, son Scott (Janie), and daughters Mary Beth (Rob), and Barbara, sister Carol (Blome) Snapp, and brother Bruce (Mary Ann). Please feel free to leave a comment on this website as a remembrance of Bob. A celebration of Robert’s life will be held on Friday August 26 at Northwood Christian Church, 4550 Central Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205. A visitation including a light luncheon will be held at 11:30am, followed by a celebration of life at 1pm. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Blome family.