Nov 7, 2012

Robert M. Elliott, 89, died Sunday, November 4, 2012.

He was born February 21, 1923, in Washington, a son of Louis Doc Elliott and Josie Minton Elliott.

Mr. Elliott graduated from Washington High School in 1941.

In 1943, 13 days after marrying his high school sweetheart, Eileen Cummins, he and his new wife boarded a World War II troop train for Savannah, Ga. After a short honeymoon, he joined the 82nd Aerodrome Group. The next three years were spent at war in the South Pacific. At the end of the war, he returned to his wife in Pennsylvania. He enrolled at Washington & Jefferson College. With his drive and determination and with his wife’s encouragement and support, he graduated in three years, an event witnessed by his 1-year-old daughter, Sherry.

After college, he went to work for Montgomery Ward. He climbed the corporate ladder, making 16 moves in 23 years, a journey that took him and his family from coast to coast. In 1974, he was recruited to run Levitz Furniture. He and his wife left California, moving to Florida. With skills honed at Wards, he assembled a team of talented and dedicated managers, streamlined the operation, fine-tuned the marketing and expanded the chain of stores nationally, creating the largest retail furniture business in the country. He was recognized during his career, and beyond his retirement in 1997, as one of the most dynamic leaders in the home-furnishings industry.

He was a devoted son and brother, a loving husband to his wife, who passed before him in 2010, a dedicated and caring father to his daughter and a surrogate father to his son-in-law. His grandsons called him Bobby, and he enjoyed a most special bond with them. He was civic-minded and broadly philanthropic, generously supporting his alma mater, Washington & Jefferson College.

He is survived by a daughter, Sherry Moseley and husband Mark; two grandsons, Steve (Erin) Moseley and Chad (Jennifer) Moseley; four great-grandchildren, Ryan, Emerson, Jake and Madison Moseley; and several nieces and a nephew.

He is predeceased by a sister, Helen Leftwich; and brothers Harold and Louis Bud Elliott.

Mr. Elliott touched and impacted many people’s lives. He will be missed deeply and remembered always.

A visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday in Babione Funeral Home, 1100 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Fla., where services will be held at noon, Friday, November 9. Entombment will be private. The family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Washington & Jefferson College or Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. View www.babionesouthflorida.com.