Obituary for Robert "Bob" Billeter
Robert Billeter, 93, the former owner, publisher and editor of The Weston Democrat, died Friday, November 30, 2019. He was born in Clarksburg to the late Arch and Mabel (Westfall) Billeter on August 16, 1926.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Burke (Mike) of Clifton, VA, and his son Lloyd Billeter of Reston, VA. Also surviving him are two grandsons, Jonathan Burke (Megan O”Neille) of Honolulu, HI and Evan (Mary) of Falls Church, VA.
He is survived by his wife Eileen (Horvath) Billeter , whom he married April 17, 1971, their son William Billeter of Glascow, KY, and three grandchildren, Robert 18, Isaac 13, and Kate 12.
He is also survived by his sister Karen McCue of Myrtle Beach, brother-in-law Jerry Stalnaker of Philippi; and niece Janet (Harper) Cutright of Jane Lew.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arch and Mabel (Westfall) Billeter, of Clarksburg,; his grandfather Fletcher Westfall and beloved step grandmother Ada (Gifford) Westfall of Burnsville; his loving step father Guy Harper; his stepmother Nora Billeter of Clarksburg; stepbrother Forrest Harper (Sharon) of Berlin; his sister Kay Stalnaker of Phillippi; and cousins Evalina Adams and Stanley Jackson of Weston.
Bob went to school in Clarksburg, Burnsville, Jane Lew and Gilmer County. He graduated from WI in 1944 and got his bachelor’s degree from WVU in 1951, courtesy of the GI Bill.
Bob served 2 years in the 7th Infantry Division in the 181st Infantry California National Guard in WWII. After the 31st Infantry was wiped out on Batan, the181st Infantry became the resurrected 31st Infantry in Soul, Korea. Bob became the radio operator at the 31st Regimental Headquarters.
After graduating from WVU, he taught English one year at Fort Asby High School in Mineral County, WV, where he sponsored the student newspaper.
He started his 65-year journalism career editing The Pendleton Times of Franklin. After that, he on The Huntington Herald Dispatch, was a reporter for The Morgantown Post and worked as an editor The Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph and The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. At one time or another, he worked at every editorial job in journalism,
In Franklin, he won the prestigious Pall Mall Award for Distinguished Service to his Community in the Field of Journalism. As he drove back and forth to work, Bob could not help but notice that there was a car parked in front of cave entrance for a long time. He reported it and wrote a story about it. He was instrumental in saving the lives of 3 boys who were lost inside the cave for several days.
Bob was very intelligent, well read and believed in doing research before he made decisions or purchases. He was an honest man who never lied, cheated or took advantage of others. He was quietly considerate of others and not quick to judge people.
Bob loved water and sailed on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, with his family for 13 years. He was a beloved husband and father who spent as much time as he could with his family. He will be greatly missed.by them.
In 1991, he retired and returned to his beloved West Virginia. The following year he and his wife bought The Weston Democrat. His column “Bobing Along” was greatly appreciated by many of his readers.
In 2016, when he turned 90, he sold the paper to News Media Corporation.
Bob loved the United States, its Constitution and West Virginia. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Weston.
Visitation will be held at the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home at 730 N. Main Avenue Weston, WV Friday, December 6, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and again from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday. Services will officiated by Rev. John Valentine starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Interment will follow at Machpelah Cemetery in Weston, next to the funeral home. After the interment, a light luncheon will be served at West Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 206 E. 2nd Street in Weston.
Online Condolences and life stories in memory of Bob may be expressed at www.hardman-palettifuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 206 E. 2nd St. Weston, WV 26452 or West Virginia Hospice 8 Hartman Plaza Buckhannon, WV 26201.
Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home of Weston is honored and privileged to serve the family of Robert Billeter.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Burke (Mike) of Clifton, VA, and his son Lloyd Billeter of Reston, VA. Also surviving him are two grandsons, Jonathan Burke (Megan O”Neille) of Honolulu, HI and Evan (Mary) of Falls Church, VA.
He is survived by his wife Eileen (Horvath) Billeter , whom he married April 17, 1971, their son William Billeter of Glascow, KY, and three grandchildren, Robert 18, Isaac 13, and Kate 12.
He is also survived by his sister Karen McCue of Myrtle Beach, brother-in-law Jerry Stalnaker of Philippi; and niece Janet (Harper) Cutright of Jane Lew.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arch and Mabel (Westfall) Billeter, of Clarksburg,; his grandfather Fletcher Westfall and beloved step grandmother Ada (Gifford) Westfall of Burnsville; his loving step father Guy Harper; his stepmother Nora Billeter of Clarksburg; stepbrother Forrest Harper (Sharon) of Berlin; his sister Kay Stalnaker of Phillippi; and cousins Evalina Adams and Stanley Jackson of Weston.
Bob went to school in Clarksburg, Burnsville, Jane Lew and Gilmer County. He graduated from WI in 1944 and got his bachelor’s degree from WVU in 1951, courtesy of the GI Bill.
Bob served 2 years in the 7th Infantry Division in the 181st Infantry California National Guard in WWII. After the 31st Infantry was wiped out on Batan, the181st Infantry became the resurrected 31st Infantry in Soul, Korea. Bob became the radio operator at the 31st Regimental Headquarters.
After graduating from WVU, he taught English one year at Fort Asby High School in Mineral County, WV, where he sponsored the student newspaper.
He started his 65-year journalism career editing The Pendleton Times of Franklin. After that, he on The Huntington Herald Dispatch, was a reporter for The Morgantown Post and worked as an editor The Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph and The Pittsburgh Post Gazette. At one time or another, he worked at every editorial job in journalism,
In Franklin, he won the prestigious Pall Mall Award for Distinguished Service to his Community in the Field of Journalism. As he drove back and forth to work, Bob could not help but notice that there was a car parked in front of cave entrance for a long time. He reported it and wrote a story about it. He was instrumental in saving the lives of 3 boys who were lost inside the cave for several days.
Bob was very intelligent, well read and believed in doing research before he made decisions or purchases. He was an honest man who never lied, cheated or took advantage of others. He was quietly considerate of others and not quick to judge people.
Bob loved water and sailed on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, with his family for 13 years. He was a beloved husband and father who spent as much time as he could with his family. He will be greatly missed.by them.
In 1991, he retired and returned to his beloved West Virginia. The following year he and his wife bought The Weston Democrat. His column “Bobing Along” was greatly appreciated by many of his readers.
In 2016, when he turned 90, he sold the paper to News Media Corporation.
Bob loved the United States, its Constitution and West Virginia. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Weston.
Visitation will be held at the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home at 730 N. Main Avenue Weston, WV Friday, December 6, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and again from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday. Services will officiated by Rev. John Valentine starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Interment will follow at Machpelah Cemetery in Weston, next to the funeral home. After the interment, a light luncheon will be served at West Hall at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 206 E. 2nd Street in Weston.
Online Condolences and life stories in memory of Bob may be expressed at www.hardman-palettifuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 206 E. 2nd St. Weston, WV 26452 or West Virginia Hospice 8 Hartman Plaza Buckhannon, WV 26201.
Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home of Weston is honored and privileged to serve the family of Robert Billeter.