Robert (Bob) John Cordes

Robert (Bob) John Cordes, age 89, of London, Ohio died May 9, 2021. He was born June 28, 1931, in St. Charles, Missouri to parents Albin and Irene Cordes. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Janis and Geri, and brother Ken.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 42 years JoAnn, Daughters Mary Pietschman and Sharon (Alan) Garmatter, sons Robert F., Michael (Donna), David (Derrick), William (Jayne), stepdaughter Julie (Tami) Roth, and stepson Kevin Roth. He is also survived by sister Priscilla (Art) Vanderbos and many grand and great-grandchildren.

Bob served in the US Army from 1952 until 1954. He graduated in 1958 from Washington University in St. Louis with a Mechanical Engineering degree. He joined Marathon Oil Co. where he held design, process, and safety positions at the Robinson, Illinois refinery before becoming a corporate senior risk engineer in Findlay, Ohio. In 1980, he moved to Marathon’s Lafayette, Louisiana office and held positions relative to offshore platform safety, training, and environment. Bob retired in 1986 and became an oil industry consultant until 1993.

Since moving to London in 1988, he was on various committees at St. Patrick Catholic Church in London, on the Catholic Laymen’s Retreat League Board in Columbus, and at Choctaw Lake. He wrote many published technical articles while employed. He wrote over 1,000 articles for Choctaw Lake’s Peace Pipe and he wrote this obituary. He completed his autobiography in 2009.

A memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, May 14th at 10:00am at St. Patrick Church, London with burial in the parish cemetery. Visitation is at the St. Patrick Parish Center Thursday, May 13th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm. If they wish, friends may make memorial contributions to St. Patrick School, Madison County Senior Center, or Madison Health Foundation. Local arrangements by Lynch Family Funeral Home, London. Online condolences may be sent to www.lynchfamilyfuneralhome.com.

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