Robert M. Ewing

A funeral service celebrating the life of Robert M. Dr. Bob Ewing, age 92, of Newark, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 25, at the Newark Baptist Temple with Pastor Mark G. Falls officiating. Burial will take place in Olivet Cemetery in Thornville where military honors will be observed. Friends may call from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. prior to the service at the church, 81 Licking View Drive in Heath. Bob was born June 14, 1925 in McComb, Ohio to the late Lloyd and Nellie (Zigler) Ewing. He passed away on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Licking Memorial Hospital. A veteran of the United States Army, Bob faithfully served his country for two years during World War II, also serving at the Battle of the Bulge, and was a recipient of the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal for valor. Following his military service, Bob received a bachelors degree in music education from Bluffton College in 1950 and a masters degree in chorale works from Wichita State University in 1964. He served as vice president of the Ohio String Teachers Association and received an honorary doctorate degree from Ohio Christian College in 1988. An accomplished musician, Bob was a music educator and dedicated his life to Christian schools, teaching all band and string instruments as well as chorale. He also taught the Suzuki method and he, himself, was adept at the violin and cello. During his half-a-century career teaching music in grades K-12 and colleges throughout the United States, Dr. Bob was a composer and arranger of music and transcribed literally hundreds of sacred chorale works for modern instrumentation. Locally, he was guest conductor of both the Newark and Granville High School bands who played several of his pieces. Bob was a very generous and appreciative individual. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening and was a member of the Newark Baptist Temple. He is survived by three children, Victor D. (Denise) Ewing of Midwest City, Oklahoma, Dora E. (Joe) Orr of Glenford and Robert T. Tim Ewing of Pataskala; eight grandchildren, Daniel L. Ewing, Ruth A. Ewing, Peter J. Ewing, Bethlee (Rick) Hatcher, Benjamin (Mandy) Orr, Hanah Orr, Rachel (Steve) Burleson and Lisa Downey; seven great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Mary Ewing of Findlay; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Verda C. (Gardner) Ewing, who passed away on July 16, 2012; and by a brother, Dean Ewing; and two sisters, Sara Neeley and Eunice Marvin.Memorial contributions may be made to the Newark Baptist Temple. Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Bob and his family.