Robert Eugene “Bob” Bathen, 87, slipped from the embrace of his loving family and into the care of his heavenly family at his home in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, May 15, 2016. He was a nationally renowned engineer and expert witness, racehorse owner/breeder, inventor, exceptional golfer and mentor, but his most treasured roles were that of devoted and beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather. He treasured time spent with his family. Bob never passed by someone in need without offering his help.

He is survived by his dearly loved wife of 65 years, Eileen Mary McGuire Bathen, his seven children: Susan Gremonprez (David), Kathleen Lewis (Roger), Mary Lou Bathen Weinstock (Jim), Paul Bathen, Margaret Singleton (Richard), John Bathen (John Brackeen), Amy Langbein (Bill); grandchildren: Robert Lewis (Carrie), Helen Gremonprez Keller (Anthony), Sarah Lewis German (David), Dennis Gremonprez, Julie Gremonprez Staney (Andy), Erin Singleton (Sheraz Aziz), Jimmy Weinstock, Steven Gremonprez, Meg Singleton and Grant Singleton; great-grandchildren: Jonathan, Katelyn, Zachary and Atreyu Keller, Adam and Mollie Staney, and Jack German; sisters Delores Hartung and Mary Frances Brehm; sisters-in-law, Margaret Shannon (Mickey) and Myrt Quinn; numerous nieces and nephews and many close friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. and Gertrude P. (Gugler) Bathen, his siblings and their spouses John Bathen (Mary), Dorothy Nelson (Arvid), Claire Kreutzer (Fred), and brothers-in-law, John Quinn, Russ Hartung and Jake Brehm.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, on November 21, 1928, Bob Bathen attended Creighton Preparatory High School where he made lifelong friends and forged a deeper love of his Catholic faith. Catholic education was so important to Bob and Eileen that they sacrificed to ensure that all seven of their children attended Catholic school from Kindergarten through Bishop Moore High School in Orlando.

He met the love of his life as she boarded a train bound for a Notre Dame football game and he knew she would be the woman he would marry and love for the rest of his life. Bob and Eileen were married on September 16, 1950 at Holy Name Catholic Church, in Omaha. On their honeymoon, he received his draft notice to join the army. While serving in the Korean War, Bob inspected construction performed by Japanese contractors. Always an adventurer he also traveled throughout Japan and even climbed Mt. Fuji.

His service in Japan inspired his interest in engineering and encouraged him to earn his college degree after the war. While attending Cleveland State University (formerly Fenn College), Bob served as Chancellor of his fraternity, Pi Sigma Tau. Although their plan was to start a family after college, by his graduation Bob and Eileen had already welcomed two children with another on the way.

In 1957, he joined the consulting engineering firm of R.W. Beck & Associates in Columbus, Nebraska, a career choice that would shape his and his family’s future for years to come. Relocating became the norm as the family moved to Seattle in 1959, Denver in 1962 and finally Orlando in 1965 where he opened the new office for the firm. Over his 50-year career at the firm, he served as an employee, partner and Executive Partner, retiring in 2007. Bob testified in numerous proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and various state and federal courts regarding wholesale electric rates and anti-trust matters. Bob was also instrumental in the formation of all of the joint action public power agencies in the Southeast, including the Florida Municipal Power Agency. Among both his peers and his competitors, Bob was respected for his ability and integrity, and known for his story telling and jokes.

Bob loved sports. As a young man, he played football and was a Golden Gloves boxer. An avid golfer and long-time member of Rio Pinar Country Club, Bob was very proud the year he was the Senior Club Champion.

Bob and Eileen bred, owned and raced quarter horses and thoroughbreds for many years. He was especially interested in the genetics of breeding horses. Their horse, Tasso’s Magic Roo, was the Triple Crown winner of the Florida Pepsi Challenge at Tampa Bay Downs in 1998.
Bob will be greatly missed by his family and friends, who take comfort in the knowledge that when he came face-to-face with our dear Lord he was greeted with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter the Gates of Heaven for life eternal”.

A visitation will be held at Newcomer Funeral Home, 895 South Goldenrod Road, Orlando, FL 32822 on Wednesday, May 18th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a rosary service at 7:00 pm with Deacon Donald Warner presiding.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in memory of Bob on Thursday, May 19th at 1:00 pm at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 5300 Old Howell Branch Road, Winter Park, FL 32792 with Fr. Bob Hoeffner presiding, followed by interment at Greenwood Cemetery

Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Bob to Smile Train, an organization dear to his heart, which has transformed the lives of more than one million children with cleft lip and palate by giving them the power of a smile. Donations may be at smiletrain.org or by mail to Smile Train, P. O. Box 96231, Washington, D.C. 20090.