S. Robert Boughter

S. Robert “Bob” Boughter passed away on June 28, 2011, in Mesa, Arizona. Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, to Samuel and Anna (nee Evans) Boughter, Bob arrived on Valentine’s Day in 1917, the fourth of five children. A few years after marrying his high school sweetheart, Marietta Frazier, Bob was inducted into the U.S. Navy. He had just completed basic training when the war came to an end and he was discharged. After returning to civilian life, they moved their young family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where Bob started his own company, the Greater Pittsburgh Credit Service. This was his life’s work until 1980 when he retired and he and Marietta packed up their motor home and hit the road. Bob was an avid golfer and also had a passion for world travel. He toured South America, Europe, Canada, Mexico, China, Australia and New Zealand. At ninety he was still golfing, riding his bicycle and driving from the east to the west coast. Bob was loved and respected for his gentle manner, his kindness and generosity toward others, and his positive outlook on life.

Celebrating the life of Bob Boughter brings several things to mind: successful businessman, wonderful father, and kind humanitarian. Bob was a very successful businessman. After his discharge from the Navy in 1946, he worked in the

banking and retail credit industries. But, he said that his lack of a college education was hindering his advancement. So, in 1956, he started his own business, the Greater Pittsburgh Credit Service. He was so well liked in the industry that many of his customers at his old job followed him to become customers in his new business. His son John remembers working for him in the 1960s after attending college. John said he was tough to work for because he and his customers demanded perfection. There was no room for errors. But, he was fair. One of his values was treating everyone equally.

From time to time, business conditions would force him to lay-off some of his employees, he would ask them who wanted to be laid-off. One of them always volunteered. But, the lay-off was always short, a couple months, and they would return to work. The five original women credit investigators who worked for him when he started his business in 1956, were still working for him when he sold his business in 1980. He was that kind of boss. He will be remembered as a very dedicated and successful businessman.

Bob and his wife Marietta raised four kids and provided them the basics that they needed: love, food, a nice home and an education. It was a Christian home, so the children were encouraged, maybe even required, to attend church. However, like many families of the day, there was some minor rebellion. It has been reported that one or more of them, their names withheld by request, were known to have sneaked out of te church service to spend some time in the local drug store sipping cherry cokes and then returning unnoticed (they think) before the service was over. Bob was an elder in the church and believed in financially supporting the church. The kids were all offered the opportunity to attend college, and eventually three of the four graduated with degrees.

And yes, there were plenty of fun times. Bob (Dad) loved to travel. When the kids were young he and Mom (Marietta) took them on vacations to Florida, New England and Washington D.C. They often tent camped and cooked outside to keep the cost low. The image of a 1952 Chevy with a roof rack still comes to mind. On one trip they were late finding a camping spot and had to select one in the dark. Keep in mind they were not using established campgrounds but, spots by the side of the road, farmers’ fields and other rent-free cozy spots. Well on this particular night darkness hid from view a sort of built in alarm clock which woke they well before they wanted. It was the blare of a diesel train whistle and it was far closer than they would have wished.

In 1959, as a Christmas present, the family flew to Los Angeles, CA for a Christmas at Disneyland and New Years at the Rose Bowl parade and football game. Then in 1962 Dad and Mom decided it would be fun to take a three week vacation driving the entire perimeter of the U.S. Larry and Nancy took part in this escapade which took them through dozens of states and included highlights such as Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park and the Seattle World’s Fair. One exciting stop was to the casinos at Las Vegas where Larry and Nancy were promptly kicked out by security guards for being under age.

On most of the family road trips we had to stop at major airports because Dad loved to watch the airliners take off and land. This was years before security was an issue and so it was possible to drive out on back roads near the runways,

park the car and watch the planes come and go.

The family also made frequent trips from Pittsburgh to New Castle to visit the many relatives on both sides of the family that still lived there. Both Bob and Marietta were born and raised in New Castle. While these trips were very good for family relationships, as we all now realize, they were not always made with enthusiasium by all participants. On one occasion there was some objection to commencing the trip as it coincided with the start of the “Lone Ranger Show” on TV. Dad (Bob) was able to midigate these concerns by assuring that it could be listened to on the car radio. So off they went. Unfortunately, it was soon realized that the “Lone Ranger” was not broadcast on the radio at all. This produced not only some consternation but, also some suspicion regarding “prior knowledge” as well.

When Bob sold his business and retired in 1980, he bought a motor home and hit the road traveling throughout the U.S. He also toured South America, Europe, Canada, Mexico, China, Australia and New Zealand. He probably would have traveled to more

foreign countries, if he could have gotten over his fear of flying. He even completed a basic course in learning to fly aircraft, but never really conquered his fear of flying. However, one of Dad’s (Bob’s) dreams was to take a flight on the Concorde because he was fascinated with its speed. His dream was fulfilled in 1987 when he and (his long-time companion Bobbie sailed from New York to England on the Q.E.II and flew back to New York on the Concorde.

Bob eventually decided on Arizona as his favorite destination. He would drive his motor home from Ohio, where he spent the summers, to Phoenix for the winter, usually spending 6 months in a retirement community in the East Valley. He continued this cross country odyssey for 25 years, before finally settling down in Mesa.

Bob had a passion for golfing. While still working in his business he golfed every weekend. He was pretty good for a weekend golfer, often shooting in the 80’s. After he retired, he golfed several times a week and continued to shoot respectable scores. Even as he approached the age of 90 he continued to golf, but was choosing shorter golf courses.

Although golfing was his passion, he wouldn’t spend a lot of money on it. He would buy used golf clubs and used golf balls. In fact, although I’m not 100% sure, he may never have bought himself a new golf ball. He even refused his childrens’ offer of a brand new set of Ping clubs one Christmas. He would go to the golf course after lunch, in the heat of the day, because the greens fees were lower. He wouldn’t use the electric golf carts either, using the excuse that he needed to walk the golf course for exercise. You see Bob had long ago learned the value of a dollar, after all he was raised during the depression (the first one), and we often say the manifestations of this. Maybe it was his attempt to teach frugality to us.

For instance, one Sunday he wanted to take the family to Howard Johnson’s for dinner after church. But, the drive to this restaurant required taking the turnpike and paying a 25 cent toll. He felt he could avoid paying the toll if he could just figure out how to drive up to the back of the restaurant through an adjacent neighborhood and thus eliminate the parkway entirely. He did indeed find a way there but as we walked from the car to the back of the restaurant we discovered we were stuck behind a chain link fence. Well, we walked along this fence until we came to a gate but it was locked with a heavy chain. Happily the chain was just loose enough so that we could pull the gate open, allowing each of us to squeeze through. Dad saved his quarter. Whether it really taught us to be frugal is debatable because, trust me, none of us has preformed this maneuver since.

At age 92, he was still driving safely (a matter of opinion), riding his bicycle, and volunteering at the retirement community where he lived. He was loved and respected for his kindness and generosity and his positive outlook on life. Even as his health was declining in the assisted living home, he never had any complaints. And, he never lost his sense of humor.

His kindness and generosity extended to numerous individual families and charities that he contributed to over the years. He supported the Hebron United Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh and the American Red Cross was one of his favorite charities. He supported numerous other charities for many years that none of the family was aware of until his death. His son John can remember Bob telling stories about homeless people who were begging on the streets of Pittsburgh. Bob wouldn’t give them any money, but if they were hungry he would take them to a restaurant and buy them a meal. Sometimes they accepted his offer and he would eat lunch with them. He was truly a unique man and a wonderful father ! We know he is in a better place but we will all miss him very much !!

Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Marietta, his daughter, Karen Dunn, sisters Claudia and Cleo, brother Jim, daughter-in-law, Sally Boughter, great-grandson, Joshua Boughter, and his long-time companion, Bobbie Reed. He is survived by his sons, John Boughter and Larry Boughter, his daughter, Nancy Frazier and his sister, Peggy Emery. He has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service honoring Bob will be held Saturday, July 23, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care 6747 East Broadway Road Mesa, Arizona 85206 (480)830-4422. Please pay tribute to Bob by visiting the family's website, at www.MariposaGardens.com.