Robert Arthur Schultz | Eastern North Carolina Now

November 12, 1940 - January 16, 2020
    Robert "Bob" Arthur Schultz passed away suddenly on January 16th, 2020.

    Born on November 12, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois to Arthur and Helen Schultz, Bob was the oldest of 5 children. The family moved to Benton Harbor, MI in 1947 where Bob attended school until he went to Kalamazoo College. This is where Bob met his future wife, Gena, whom he proposed to over the phone while she was studying abroad in France. Upon graduation from Kalamazoo, Bob joined the Navy and started his career of 23 years. He married Gena in September of 1963 in Kalamazoo, MI. His time in the Navy took Bob and his family to Italy, Connecticut, South Carolina, Massachusetts, California, Hawaii, Guam and Virginia.

    While in the Navy, Bob served as a supply corps officer on the submarine USS Calhoun (SSBN-630) and the support ships USS Proteus (AS-19) and USS Shenandoah (AD-26). He received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1972. Bob also worked at the Pentagon and in Crystal City, MD in various financial and program office management roles for the Navy.

    Bob retired from the Navy as a Captain in 1986 and moved the family to Illinois when he accepted the job as treasurer at Illinois Power. He filled many roles while there including CEO of a start up company that took them to Salt Lake and Chicago. Bob retired from Illinois Power in 1999 and filled the role of Interim Dean of the Business School at the University of Illinois until 2001.

    In 2001, Bob and Gena packed their things and moved to Chocowinity, NC where they had built their dream home. This is where they have made their home and met many wonderful friends. Bob was never idle. He occupied his time playing golf, working in the yard with his dogs, going for rides in his fishing boat, and traveling extensively with Gena and his family (including family trips to Africa and Germany). He volunteered much of his time and wisdom to the Turnage Theater, SCORE, the United Way, and the Cypress Landing community and golf course.

    He is survived by his wife Gena, Daughter, Victoria Schultz (T. Ray) Phillips of Indianapolis, IN; Son, Todd (Linda) Schultz of Knoxville, TN; Three Sisters, Judith Jones of Benton Harbor, MI, Ann Baxter of Jackson, MI, Kay (Gary) Schultz-Soper of Benton Harbor, MI; Brother, Kenneth Schultz of Coloma, MI; Two Grandsons, Zachary Stone (Claire) Schultz of Charlotte, NC, Thomas Ray Phillips of Indianapolis, IN; Two Granddaughters, Alexandra Reed (Stefan) Schulz of Knoxville, TN, Audrey Harms Phillips of Indianapolis, IN; Two Step grandsons, Scott Thomas Dunlap of Knoxville, TN, Stephen Thomas Dunlap of Atlanta, GA; Step Granddaughter, Kelly Mae Dunlap of Atlanta, GA .

    In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made directly to United Way of Beaufort County, 113 East 15th Street, Washington, NC 27889 or Turnage Theater, 150 West Main Street, Washington, NC 27889 or Chocowinity EMS, 512 NC-33, Chocowinity, NC 27816 or online by visiting www.tmcfunding.com/search, then type Bob Schultz.

    Washington Funeral & Cremation is handling the arrangements for the Schultz family.