Robert R. Mclaughlin Jr.

Robert R. McLaughlin Jr., 79, of Lake Isabella died Sunday, December 7, 2003 at Gratiot Community Hospital in Alma. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Lux Funeral Home with Pastor Dean Willard of First Baptist Church in Weidman officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Friends may call at Lux Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2-8 p.m. and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW in Weidman, the Mecosta Senior Center Meal Fund or to the Commission on Aging. Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home. Robert was born June 8, 1924, in Freeland, the son of Robert R. and Mabel (Kennedy) McLaughlin. He married Mary E. Thompson on March 5, 1946 in Richmond, Va. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He served in the South Pacific from 1943-1946 during World War II. He was employed at Ford Automotive for 19 years as a production foreman, retiring on Dec. 31, 1984. Prior to that he was a radio operator for Eastern Airlines and a supervisor for Emery Air Freight. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Weidman, the Weidman VFW, and a member of the Yankee Air Force. He enjoyed computers and even taught computers to seniors in Mecosta. He had a pilot instructors license but also enjoyed flying remote controlled airplanes. Robert is survived by three children, Geraldine (Arvil) King of Weidman, Hunter McLaughlin of Gladwin and Robert C. (Carol) McLaughlin of Livonia; seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and one brother, Jack (Sue) McLaughlin of Freeland. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Mary on Nov. 29, 2002.