Robert “Bob” Arthur Schultz, of Chocowinity, passed away suddenly on Jan. 16, 2020.

Born on Nov. 12, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, to Arthur and Helen Schultz, Bob was the oldest of five children. The family moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan, 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, Michigan. 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, Maryland, 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, 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 Theatre, SCORE, the United Way and the Cypress Landing community and golf course.

He is survived by his wife, Gena; a daughter, Victoria Schultz (T. Ray) Phillips, of Indianapolis, Indiana; a son, Todd (Linda) Schultz, of Knoxville, Tennessee; three sisters, Judith Jones, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Ann Baxter, of Jackson, Michigan, Kay (Gary) Schultz-Soper, of Benton Harbor, Michigan; a brother, Kenneth Schultz, of Coloma, Michigan; two grandsons, Zachary Stone (Claire) Schultz, of Charlotte, Thomas Ray Phillips, of Indianapolis, Indiana; two granddaughters, Alexandra Reed (Stefan) Schulz, of Knoxville, Tennessee, Audrey Harms Phillips, of Indianapolis, Indiana; two step-grandsons, Scott Thomas Dunlap, of Knoxville, Tennessee, Stephen Thomas Dunlap, of Atlanta, Georgia; and a step-granddaughter, Kelly Mae Dunlap, of Atlanta, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made directly to United Way of Beaufort County, 113 E. 15th St., Washington, NC 27889 or Turnage Theatre, 150 W. Main St., Washington, NC 27889 or Chocowinity EMS, 512 N.C. Highway 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.