Honoring the Memory
of Those
We Love

Please refer to obituaries for information on visitations, funeral services and requests by the family or deceased for honoring their memory.

Robert F. "Bob" Reitmeyer

March 29, 1938 - August 29, 2024

Text:

Obituary For Robert F. "Bob" Reitmeyer

Age 86, of the Borough of Whitehall (Pittsburgh), passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 29, 2024. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Bob graduated from South Hills High School and Duquesne University. He is survived by his wife Regina, son Richard, daughter Rebecca, sisters Suzanne (Paul) Schrenk and Annys Laufer, brothers Timothy (Sheryl) Reitmeyer and Thomas (Kelly) Reitmeyer, and sister-in-law Barbara Reitmeyer, plus countless cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Harry and David.

Bob's career as a helicopter pilot began in the Navy, where he earned his wings, toured the Mediterranean Sea on the USS Taconic, then served on two cruises aboard the USS Edisto, an icebreaker that took him to both the Arctic Circle and Antarctica. Following active duty, he joined the Navy Reserves in Lakehurst, NJ, for a few years before becoming a Weekend Warrior for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in Washington, PA, for over 20 years, where he formed many cherished and lifelong friendships. He parlayed his military experience to work as a fixed-wing plane and helicopter pilot for Consol Coal, where he regularly frustrated coworkers with his early morning cheerfulness and occasionally took his children with him on day trips to Washington, DC.

Any summary of Bob's life must also chronicle his devotion to the Boy Scouts. Having missed out as a child, he dragooned his son into joining so that he could also participate, even dubbing his daughter an Honorary Boy Scout so that she could attend most outdoor activities with them. Bob served as a troop leader and mentor for many years, attended multiple Jamborees, and taught several Merit Badge classes.

When his son worked on his Woodcarving Merit Badge, Bob's childhood interest in woodworking was reignited as well. He took carving lessons and for years rarely went anywhere for an extended period of time without his carving box, unabashedly littering airports, lobbies, the outdoor concert area at South Park, and most importantly the kitchen floor with piles of wood chips. He always said that his side hustle supplying Boy Scout camps with woodcarving blanks kept him out of bars and trouble, and that business plus teaching woodcarving on many a Merit Badge Midway and his periodic articles in Chip Chats Magazine eventually made him known as Whittler Bob to generations of Scouters and carvers alike.

While he was a Pittsburgher through and through, Bob was also an inveterate traveler, with his chosen profession serving him well. After retiring from the Guard and Consol, he regularly traveled to visit his children, eventually joining his son on vacations across the US and London, traveling with his daughter through Germany, and successfully talking his wife into that Alaskan cruise he'd wanted to do for years.

Bob made friends wherever he went, and stayed busy in his retirement by joining groups such as the Streets Run Watershed Association and Baldwin Historical Society. He was a longtime member of a succession of local gyms, where he spent far more time talking with the other regulars than working out.

Although his children never did let him get a Facebook account, Bob still managed to reconnect with childhood friends and kept in touch with military buddies across the country, never using a period in an email when a comma-comma-comma would do.

His quick smile, happy laugh, easygoing manner, continual support of his family, unwavering pride in his children, ongoing struggle with the squirrel and the birdfeeder, and endless supply of sawdust will be missed.

Friends will be received at the John F. Slater Funeral Home, Inc., 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood 15227 on Sunday, September 1, 2024 from 2-5 and 6-8 p.m. where a blessing service will be held on Monday at 11:00 a.m. If desired, family suggests contributions to Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/hAGC5g or Western Pennsylvania Conservancy: www.paconserve33577.ac-page.com/WPCTributeGift.

Photos & Video

Add New Photos & Video

Condolences

  • September 02, 2024

    I met Bob many years ago at Camp Ranachqua (Ten Mile River Scout Camps) as he demonstrated and taught us Woodcarving. For years, we used his plaques and slides (I wouldn't use another company) and he was always available for ideas and suggestions. Our camp is now closed but his works will always be a part of our camp and woodcarving classes. Love and many prayers to his family.

  • August 30, 2024

    Condolences to Mrs. Reitmeyer and family. Mr. Reitmeyer was an amazing Scouting leader. He taught us at Troop 210 so many merit badges, woodcarving, and wild stories. I have a beautiful hand-carved and painted Eagle head neckerchief slide, by Mr. Reitmeyer himself, to remember him by. God rest in peace.

  • August 30, 2024

    My two sons went through troop 210 and spent much time with Mr. Reitmeyer. Bob and I worked together often as I was a den leader for my sons through Cub scouts and helped some with boy scouts. Bob even came to teach my daughter's girl scout troop about wood carving once. My daughters tagged along quite often to meetings and he was so kind to them. He was a good, generous man.

  • August 30, 2024

    Dear Mrs. Reitmeyer, Richard and Rebecca: On behalf of the Scout Leaders, Committee, and Scouts of Boy Scout Troop 6, we would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to your family and our heartfelt thanks to Bob and his support of the troop. Bob and his link to Troop 6 goes back over (70) years if you can believe it. He was a scout in the troop in the 1950's and its not surprising that carving was a part of his life. We were fortunate enough to have Ed Choby as a leader in the troop back then and that may be where he was first exposed to a carving knife. We had an opportunity to connect once again (6-8) years ago when if you remember Mrs. Reitmeyer, you were kind enough to accompany Bob out to Camp Guyasuta in Sharpsburg on a Saturday camping trip of ours to teach the boys a little about carving. Bob was not feeling well but in true scout form, he pushed through and spent a couple hours with us. Many of those scouts have since become Eagle Scouts and aged out of the program but they wore their neckerchief slides proudly. Bob was also able to join us for our 75th Anniversary dinner for Troop 6 back in 2017 and we were happy to have him. He was one of many that represented past scouts from the troop going back into the 1940's. We were also fortunate enough to make a connection with him when he decided to bring his business to a close. He was able to sell us some of his remaining neckerchief slide blanks so we could keep the boys interested in carving on weekend trips and at summer camp. Carving neckerchief slides is an important part of the troops history and Bob was a part of that. Some of the first-year scouts in the troop were carving at summer camp just this past July when we traveled to Virginia for summer camp. The skill of carving teaches the boys patience, perseverance, attention to detail, and at times first aid skills to bandage an unexpected accident with the carving knife. Luckily those times are few and far between. Bob was also kind enough to carve a neckerchief slide for my wife and I and they are very special to us. I attached the photos below. We still wear them proudly and as often as we can with our scout uniform shirts. In conclusion, while it is not easy to find the right words to console you or to say our goodbyes to Bob, I would rather thank him for the skill he has passed on to us, try always to get better at it, and teach it to as many scouts and leaders that we can as a way of saying thank you to him now and in the future. Not to mention thanking you and your family for sharing him with us. Yours in Scouting, Fred Metting, Scoutmaster Boy Scout Troop 6, Laurel Highlands Council Church of the Resurrection, Saint Teresa of Kolkata Parish

  • August 29, 2024

    Mr Reitmeyer was an amazing mentor for Troop 210 and the entire Laurel Highlands. I grew up as a scout sister and have the best memories of him as I tagged along for events. My oldest son always enjoyed any masterpiece Mr Reitmeyer gave him at troop meetings with his uncles. My deepest sympathy to all of Bob's family and friends. He left an impact that is unmatched. Stephanie Pryor and Jonah

  • August 29, 2024

    Ski and I treasured Salty and Regina's friendship. Every year he carved a very unique and beautiful Santa for me. This went on for decades. I always cherished these Santas as I displayed them every Christmas season. This Christmas they will be even more meaningful. We really loved Salty.