Robert Sords

ROBERT O. SORDS The beloved husband for 62 years of Virginia S. "Ginny" Sords nee Stief of Shaker Hts., OH, died August 21st, 2012. ROBERT O. SORDS The beloved husband for 62 years of Virginia A. "Ginny" Sords nee Stief of Shaker Hts., OH, died August 21st, 2012. "Bob" was the dear father of Kathryn L. "Katy" Mercer Guy V., Paul A. Sords fiancé Sharon Gill, both of Shaker Hts., OH and Steven R. Sords Ann of Kirtland Hills, OH; dear grandfather of Cece and Nikki Mercer; Andrew, Elizabeth and Molly Sords; Erik, Peter and Sammy Sords. Bob Sords was born May 22, 1924 in Akron, Ohio and died August 21, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents, Otto and Irma Sords, had an electric shop on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls; all through grade school, Bob rushed to help out, sometimes taking naps in boxes which had housed washers and dryers. He undoubtedly learned the "in's and out's" of pricing in for a business, which held him in good stead years later in his chosen profession as a manufacturer's rep. Always a good student, Bob graduated from Falls High in 1941 at the age of 16, and relocated to Cleveland as a student at The Case Institute of Technology. He joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and participated in an accelerated program as World War II was in progress. In 1943, he was called to the Army where he spent 3 years with the 86th Infantry Division in Europe and in the Philippine Islands. Returning to Case in 1946, Bob changed his major from Physics to Electrical Engineering and graduated in 1948. At Case, Bob met Ginny Stief, a sophomore at Mather College. While waiting for her to graduate, Bob went to work for Anderson-Bolds, a manufacturer's representative, eventually becoming president of the company. Bob never felt the need for another job and stayed with Anderson-Bolds for 64 years. He loved selling industrial heating and control products to Ohio manufacturers and, as a professional engineer, worked closely with Ohio Edison and The Illuminating Company. Following Ginny's graduation from Mather, she and Bob were married on June 10th, 1950, spent several weeks touring Europe and then moved into their first house on Greenvale Road in Cleveland. In 1956, the two moved to Laclede Road in South Euclid where their 3 children Katy, Paul, and Steven were born. For the last 50 years, Ginny and Bob have lived on Manchester Road in Shaker Heights. Bob and Ginny both loved sports, being fans of the Indians and the Browns, but also loved individual sports - especially skiing and playing tennis. They were avid choir members, first singing with the Mastersingers and then for several years with Robert Shaw and the Cleveland Orchestra. For the past 27 years, Bob and Ginny delighted in watching eight grandchildren grow, being lucky enough to have them all within 20 minutes of the Manchester house. The family has enjoyed holidays and summer fun at "The Farm" in Kirtland Hills, as well as visiting Piper's Landing in Palm City, Florida for fishing and golf. Bob's favorite get-away, however, has been a cabin on Lake Penage in northern Ontario, where he could putter around with small chores and keep the place in good repair, using skills he learned all those years ago in Sords Electric. The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, 12601 Shaker Blvd., two blocks West of Shaker Square Cleveland, Ohio 44120 where a Funeral Mass will be held Saturday August 25th at 2 PM. Interment Lake View Cemetery. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT BROWN-FORWARD, 17022 CHAGRIN BLVD., SHAKER HTS., OH, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24TH FROM 5-7 PM.


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