Robert Courtland Deskin, 91, St. Petersburg, Fla. passed away Monday, July 22, 2024, at Westminster Palms in St. Petersburg.
He was born Dec. 27, 1932, to the late Paul Courtland and Edna (Ainsworth) Deskin in Moberly.
He grew up in St. Louis and then Boonville. Bob graduated from Laura Speed Elliot High School in Boonville in 1951. After graduation, he enrolled at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he graduated with his BS in Chemical Engineering in 1955.
Bob met the love of his life, Mary Gay Laughlin, in Columbia and later united in marriage Jan. 29, 1955, in her grandparents’ home in Linn.
They then moved to Charleston, W.Va., where Bob began his career with DuPont. Bob and Mary Gay later lived in Wilmington, Del. and Akron, Ohio, while he worked for DuPont. They then moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., where Bob earned a master’s degree from Carnegie-Mellon University, and then on to a career with WR Grace in Winchester, Mass. and Fort Worth, Texas, before retiring in Florida. It was quite a great adventure across America.
Bob and Mary Gay enjoyed traveling, particularly throughout the American Southwest and France, often visiting friends residing in Europe. He preferred to keep busy gardening and with church work, but was always happy to stop and enjoy a cookie or some ice cream. After his retirement, Bob enjoyed being a supportive and involved grandfather.
He was preceded in death by wife of 65 years, Mary Gay; parents, Paul and Edna; and son, Andy Deskin.
Bob is survived by son, Bruce Deskin and wife Rachel of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Houston, Texas; daughter, Paula Korstvedt and husband Benjamin of Rutland, Mass.; grandchildren, Thomas and Matthew Deskin and Samuel Korstvedt; sister-in-law, Alice Scott; and four nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, at Morton Chapel in Linn.
Arrangements entrusted to Morton Chapel in Linn.
