Robert W. Fincher of Palm Harbor, FL passed away on Sunday, November 30, 2014 at Brookside Hospice House under the care of Suncoast Hospice.
He recently celebrated his 93rd birthday. He was raised in Alabama and a graduate of Montgomery High School. Robert “Bob” Fincher’s passion for baseball landed him a position as a left handed pitcher in the South Athletic League in the early 1940’s. His talents were noticed and he was drafted by the Cincinnati Red’s team on December 2, 1941. Five days later WWII broke out. Called to service his promising athletic career was cut short.
Fincher served in the Marine Corps from 1941 to 1945 as Platoon Sergeant with a machine gun company and was awarded a Purple Heart after engaging in combat in the August 7th Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester Campaigns.
Returning home to Montgomery, Fincher married his first wife Francis with whom he raised two children and began a successful 28-year career in business. Initially hired as a Sales Rep for General Motors, his skill in sales and management drove him up through the ranks where he was promoted to Frigidaire’s General Manager growing the division to more than $450 million in annual sales. Widowed in 1970, Fincher met his current wife, accomplished watercolor artist, Olga Venedictovna, in Hawaii on a blind date and was smitten. They were married in Honolulu in 1973 and shared their lives in Ohio, California, Hawaii, and Florida.
After retiring in 1977, Fincher returned to his love of sports as a volunteer baseball and football coach inspiring hundreds of high school students to excel in athletics. For the past 39 years, Bob and Olga have lived the American Dream, traveling the world and enjoying their family, totaling at last count: four children 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
A memorial service will be celebrated at 3:00 PM on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at East Lake United Methodist Church, 2801 East Lake Road, Palm Harbor 34685, www.eastlakeumc.org.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, (813) 805-9400, or the Semper Fi Fund.
Very well said and now lets play ball…..baseball that is cause Robert loved that sport. I miss you so much Bob and your famous words will always ring in my ears ” I love my wife” God bless , love Judy and Harry.
As a loving son, I am very proud of my father and of the way he lived his life. He was a good man, who had a rich and fulfilling life. He was a loving father and husband, and provided many wonderful examples for those who follow.
i miss him, and am thankful that he passed peacefully.
bob fincher
Bob was a warm and loving father in law to me and I have always loved him very much. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are a wonderful legacy. Much love to Olga, Lynda, Bob, Grandchildren and great-grands! Jan Finley (formerly Fincher)
I’m so thankful to have had Bob as my second dad; he shared his life with me for a very long time! He truly gave my mom a wonderful life and they were a beautiful example of true love. I will always have fond memories of him singing “The Shadow of your Smile” in his awesome voice and his excitement to receive a package of my home-grown tomatoes from California. The package always brought him back to the days of his childhood. He would exclaim; I loved my tomato sandwich which I took to school and would never think about sharing it! just tomatoes and mayo….the simple things in life should always bring a smile! I hope you are smiling and singing in heaven Dad! love, joany
I will remember that he was truly loved by my mother for more years than most can ever imagine. I will remember the twinkle in his eye and his smile, and that he cared deeply for his family. Aloha.
The world was a better place because of the presence of Bob Fincher. The United States was better protected because of Platoon Sgt. Bob Fincher. The US Marines were better because of his leadership and dedication. The professional baseball league was probably worse because of Bob’s absence from it. The streets of Heaven are better guarded because of Bob’s reporting for duty. Semper fi, my friend.
mike Galyean
Dear Olga,
Please accept our condolences for your and America’s loss of a true American hero in every sense of the phrase.
Your Bob is truly missed by family and friends probably world wide, but be assured he is in a better place with our Lord.
Thank you for the 35 years of your friendship and may God bless you in your hour of grief.
Love,
Luann and Gary
I’ve known Bob and Olga for many years now, I worked in their home and watched them interact.
This is what I know:
Often the two of them would just start singing in harmony, Bob’s deep full voice complimented Olga. Bob would be a little stubborn once in a while, refusing to do something, Olga somehow how would patiently talk him into doing it. They had an endless supply of love and commitment for one another, even during the
difficult times, their love stood through the
years.
I learned that Bob owned a red corvette in his youth. One day, I think it was on his birthday, Olga brought out a photo album, we were enjoying looking at the photos. Somewhere I read the words, “red corvette”. I asked Bob to tell us about it….the biggest brightest smile erupted across his face. After that, I would merely mention the words “red corvette” and that smile would appear.
One more memory….TIGER…..Tiger is the reason that Bob and Olga got married. When Bob took Olga to her home one night after a lovely dinner out, Tiger, Olga’s dog, I think he was a boxer, met them at the door…Bob adored dogs, when he saw Tiger at the door…that sealed the deal, so to say….Bob was immediately enamored with Olga, thus began their relationship..all because of TIGER.
There are many more cherished memories…just ask Olga.
We miss Bob and always will. I know he’s in Heaven, maybe one of the first souls he met was a young Soldier who would often go to Bob’s home to visit with him. Perhaps the Soldier and the Marine are discussing baseball this very moment.
Plt Sgt Bob Fincher lived a long and rewarding life. He was a remarkable man….World War II marine of some epic battles, professional baseball player, successful businessman and loving husband to his wife Olga. May this honorable man rest in peace.
We are both so saddend with Bob’s passing .. We know how devoted you were to him by the loving care you gave him when he became sick. There is a place saved in heaven for you Olga for your devotion to this accomplished man..
Aloha Patty and Bob
Bob I knew you for only a little while but when I met you I knew I had met a true American.
Your love for your Olga was a wonderful thing to witness.
I will not forget you singing a love song duet with your Olga.
God bless
Marilia Pessoa Drusch
I thank all of you dear family and friends,from the bottom of my heart,for your kind and loving words for my beloved husband Bob, the “love of my life” as he used to say to me daily for these almost 43 years. We met Sep 16,1971 on a blind date in Honolulu Hawaii, married Feb 27, 1973, when he took me to Dayton Ohio (I never recovered, now “that’s love”)I miss him terribly, and feel like half of me is gone, but hoping we shall meet again in heaven, God willing. “In the end there are three things remaining, Faith, Hope, and Love, and the greatest of these is Love”..Please Love each other always. God Bless us all, Olga Venedictovna Bedrina Goodwin Fincher
Aloha
xxx
Dearest Olga and family,
Bob’s spirit and his steadfast love for you will always be with you. It is sad to lose our loved ones even if they have been richly blessed with 93 years. Thankfully, our treasure trove of memories will be with us forever.
A hui hou aku,
Phyllis Oliver
Sincere condolences to you. How wonderful you were able to share so many years together.
I am just around the corner, and a phone call away. Please. If you need anything, call.
Dear Olga
Accept our condolences and deepest sympathy.
With sadness we just saw the pictures you sent us a few days earlier of you and Bob
sharing your last and very touchy moments in the Hospice.
No words can explain the sorrows and the loss of your closest one, think of all the Friends
sharing it with you and your Family.
Love, Mary and Joseph Stefanac
Dear Olga,
You and Bob were so helpful in assisting me in the writing of my new book, Victory Fever on Guadalcanal. Bob will not be lost to history now. I only wish I had had the opportunity to meet him in person.
With my deepest condolences,
Bill Bartsch
Reston, Virginia
Sorry to hear about Bob as we enjoyed his company at the GM retires group many times. As we have moved to MI, we will not be able to attend the memoral but will be there in memory. Our prayers go out to Olga whom we also enjoyed the company at the Lunch gatherings. We also were fellow Marines and GM retires.
wendell and dorothy
Heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to you and the family, Olga. Bob was indeed fortunate to have you as his caregiver these past few years. I know you will miss him but I also know how thankful you are for all the happy years you had together. I send you prayers for peace in your heart.
With love,
Amy
It is so sadly so bereavement for you our dear native. I look at the photo of Bob and sorry that I never knew
him noble and strong men. Accept our condolences native Olechka, Joanny and Debby. Store light memoirs about him. Vera and family of Tselishchev.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE
Remembering Bob is very easy to do. His obvious deep love for Olga, his passion with baseball and his huge sweet tooth are fond memories. I know he enjoyed ice cream and chocolates on a few of his visits to me. Bob’s service to our country and to his family are remembered with appreciation. I trust these and other happy memories will sustain the friends and family he leaves behind until we meet him again.
God’s richest blessings to you Olga during this difficult time. Your love and dedication to Bob is an inspiration to me.
To my fellow veteran I salute you with a humble for your service. To the family, there is a legacy left you by your father. One of love of God, country, family and fellow man. A legacy rich in accomplisments.
Though I am uable to attend your services as a rider of th Patriot Guard Riders, I send my deepest respect and thanks for your service.
So stand at ease marine. Your duty is done with great honor
Lee Smith
E7 USAF Ret
So sorry this message is so belated, but I was thinking about Bob and Olga earlier this week while in Hawaii on vacation
I met Bob and Olga on Maui in 1980 while playing a tennis exhibition match at the Royal Lahina Resort (back then). They were watching the match along with my parents and became family friends and later stayed with my parents at their place in Sydney, Australia.
They also allowed me and my fellow tennis player Chris Patterson to stay at their place near Pearl City when money was tight. We were playing tennis for universities in Alabama and Louisiana and stopping over in Honolulu was a dream that was made even better by our time with the Finchers.
They were fantastic people and I really liked them alot.