Rev. Robert Nathan Malone, 94, of Centerville, passed away on December 6, 2022, at Friends Fellowship Community, where he had been a resident since December 14, 2021. Bob was a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, and was the son of Rev. Robert P. and Nona (Jones) Malone.
Bob moved to Centerville with his family to accept a pastorate at the Centerville Church of the Nazarene; where with his vision they converted the former Centerville Stuckey’s location on U.S. Highway 40 into a church sanctuary. He lived in the community for six decades until moving to Friends Fellowship Community for health reasons.
He was a bi-vocational pastor during his ministerial career. His ability to manage the demands of a congregation while employed as a purchasing manager for Dana Corporation spoke to the many talents he developed throughout his life. He especially enjoyed his association with the salespersons he met during his career with Dana.
Bob truly had amazing skills that he enjoyed demonstrating and sharing with others. His beautiful singing voice resonated throughout the churches he pastored or attended as a visitor. During his early years in ministry, he developed a portfolio of chalk art renderings that he would draw for congregations. He also had stellar carpentry skills and loved enhancing his home or the homes of his children with improvements that he envisioned.
His commitment to community was exemplified by his service on the Centerville-Abington Community Schools school board, and the Crown Hill Cemetery board.
Bob was a member of the Buick Riviera Owners Association and The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. In his career with Dana Corporation, he achieved national recognition as a Certified Purchasing Manager.
During his semi-retirement years, he traveled many miles as the courtesy van driver for the Whitewater Eye Centers. The eye center staff always looked forward to Bob’s annual appearance as Santa Claus during their holiday party.
Bob was passionate about gardening, and growing flowers in his flower beds. He spent many hours of his retirement years on his porch admiring his beautiful yard and watching birds that lighted on his feeders.
Bob is survived by his wife of seven years, Gladys “Sharon” Short, one daughter Deb (Patrick) Hamilton, and one son Ret. LTC Mark (Beverly) Malone, seven grandchildren Jaclyn, Andrew, Maxwell, Marianne, Michelle, Kathryn (Kate), and Amie; eleven great-grandchildren Gianna, Liam, Alyssa, Aiden, Isaac, Atlas, Vincent, Isabella, Preston, Greyson, and Jesse; thirteen nieces and nephews: Linda, Pamm, Paula, Scott, Keith, Monica, Danny, Megan, Michael, David, Lisa, Jodie, and Alicia; cousins Charlotte, Tommy and David.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 60 years Margaret (Booth) Malone, granddaughter Amber, one sister Christina (Malone) Rouch, and two brothers Edmund S. Malone, and James F. Malone.
Services will be 1:00 PM Saturday, December 17, 2022, at Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral Home; burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Friends of the Centerville-Center Township Public Library c/o Centerville Public Library, 126 East Main St., Centerville, Indiana 47330. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stegallberheideorr.com