Robert Edward Salter

Salter, Robert E. (Bob, Bobby), 78, passed away peacefully on August 22nd, 2014, with dignity, grace and on his own terms. He was born August 31st, 1935, in Soperton, Georgia, to Austin Earl and Sarah Aileen Salter. He lived in south Georgia amongst grandparents, many aunts, uncles and cousins, until the age of nine when his family moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where his love of the ocean took root. He graduated from Cristobal High School in 1953, where he lettered in baseball, basketball, football and was a member of ROTC. He was awarded an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy and later attended Georgia Tech. Bob was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the Argonne Ballroom, ROTC and he worked for Westinghouse Elevators as a co-op student to help pay for college. In 1960, he graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. While stationed in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, he launched his career in Aerospace Engineering and worked on the Pershing Missile System. He received the Army Commendation Medal and was promoted to First Lieutenant. In 1963, he moved to Richardson, Texas, to work for Collins Radio and traveled to Taiwan and the Philippines with his job. In 1966, Bob and his family relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he began his 24 year career at E-Systems/ECI as a Systems Engineer and retired as a Vice President in 1990. Along the way, was a short stint to Puerto Rico in 1971, with Westinghouse Elevators, an enriching, experience for his family. During his career he made many life long friends and explored the world. He spent much of his retirement researching and publishing his family history with his sister, Colleen McDowell, and together they made many trips to their Aunt Marie Samples' home in the Georgia countryside to reminisce. Bob's sanctuary was the water and he enjoyed fishing and his beloved boat, Le Bateau. He went on many angling adventures from Alaska to Nicaragua. He liked the game of golf and the camaraderie of the foursome. He was an avid reader, a good dancer, and a straight shooter. He loved to watch football and soccer and became a Gator fan because his daughters and his money went to the University of Florida. He enjoyed a good steak, a glass of red wine, happy hour with his buddies and milk and cookies before bed. He loved his daughters Teri (Plumridge) and Robyn (Dunn) unconditionally, and they him. He was an important mentor and friend to his son-in-law Michael Plumridge and his nephew Robert Bouler, as well as a big fan of his son-in-law Jim Dunn and his grandchildren - Clay Plumridge, Audrey, Anna and Brady Dunn. He always expressed deep gratitude and admiration for his wife, Lynne, and the job she did raising their daughters. He was thankful for his rural Georgia roots, Canal Zone up-bringing, and his respectfully competitive relationship with his big brother, Talmadge. He was a hard worker and a deep thinker; an engineer to the core. Yet, he filled his life with enduring friendships that brought him much happiness, adventure and laughter. If he summed up his life in one word he would say it was "marvelous." A Party to Celebrate the life of Robert E Salter will be held on Sunday, September 7th from 4:30-6:30 at Tampa Bay Watch - 3000 Pinellas Bay Way S, Tierra Verde, FL. The attire is Bob/Beach Casual, Light Fare. We hope that this will be a happy occasion, as we celebrate his "marvelous" life. Directions to Tampa Bay Watch: Head toward Fort Desoto on the Pinellas Bay Way. Turn right at the white picket fence, just before the toll booth. There will be complimentary valet service available. In honor of Bob's love of fishing and the waters of Tampa Bay, Memorial contributions may be made to Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas BaywayS., Tierra Verde,FL 33715 or online at tampabaywatch.org. The organization is dedicated to the protection and restoration of Tampa Bay's precious estuary through scientific and educational programs.