Robert E. Morgan, born December 16, 1932, in Winston-Salem, passed from this life, into eternal glory, on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Bettie Hayes Morgan, of Asheboro, children Robert Morgan, Jr., of San Diego, CA; Ed Morgan, of Peru, IN; Ted Morgan, of Huntington, WV, Jennifer Morgan, of Asheboro, and Jeff Morgan, of Heidelberg, Germany. He had ten grandchildren, Sarah Morgan, Brooklyn, NY; Robert Morgan, III, USAF, TX; Christina Morgan, Morganton, WV; Melanie Harvey, Durham, NC; Emily Morgan, Bloomington, IN; Bethany Morgan, Bloomington, IN; Michael Morgan, Bloomington, IN; Whit Morgan, Heidelberg, GE; Tara Morgan, Augusta GA; Maggie-Grace Morgan, Asheboro; two step-grandsons, Will Britt, Heidelberg, GE and David Britt, Lumberton, NC; one great-grandchild, Eric Morgan, Morganton, WV; two cousins and a host of nieces, nephews and in-laws.
As a boy, Bobby Morgan delivered the Courier-Tribune throughout the Dogwood Acres section of Asheboro. He went on to become a gifted athlete, and played quarterback for the Blue Comets, pitcher for the high school baseball team, and center for the basketball squad. Mentored and coached by the legendary Lee J. Stone, he led Asheboro teams to many victories, and was selected as a High School All-American. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and attended Wake Forest College on an athletic scholarship, where he played football and baseball. Upon his graduation, in 1957, he was drafted to pitch for the Boston Red Sox, but chose instead to enter the business world, to better support his growing family, as professional athletes were not as well compensated in those days, as they are today.
He went to work for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, and attended a management training program for their international division. In 1959 he took his family overseas. Bob lived in Luxembourg, Colombia, the Philippines, Argentina, Jamaica, Uruguay, France, Belgium and Peru. He returned to Akron in 1979 as Executive Production Director for Asia, Africa and Australia. Bob retired from Goodyear in 1992, when he, Bettie, and Jennifer, returned to Asheboro.
Bob was an avid golfer and often served as a Scout leader and youth sports coach in various countries. He was a trustee of his church in Colombia, where he was also founder of the American-international school, Colegio Interamericano. Since returning to Asheboro, he has been a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Eben and Earleen Morgan, and his brother, Eben Morgan, Jr.
Visitation will be from six until eight on Sunday evening, at the Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro. A funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, at eleven, on Monday morning.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, or to the First United Methodist Church.