BEDFORD – The gentle quiet that settled over Bedford, Indiana, on November 11, 2025, was a strange counterpart to the vibrant life that Robert ‘Bob’ E. Lee, at 89, had just concluded. For decades, Bob had been a fixture—a steady hand, a loud cheer, and a presence that made the Lawrence County community feel like a much smaller, warmer town.
Born in Clinton and raised in Rockville, Indiana, Bob’s life was an early symphony of ambition and camaraderie. He was a proud “Rox” graduate,
It was also at IU that he cemented a legacy for three generations, becoming the first of his family to ride in the famous Little 500, a tradition later carried by his son, Robert, and grandson, Evan. But above all, it was in the humble kitchen of a sorority house that fate intervened, introducing him to Marjorie (Marge) Boone, the woman who would become his compass for 66 years.
Following his military service, where he proudly achieved the rank of Captain in the United States Army, and after completing mortuary science training, Bob and Marge set off for Bedford in 1958. They arrived with a total of $50, but, more importantly, an abundance of optimism that proved to be their greatest asset. Bob dedicated his professional life to the community as a funeral director and the owner of Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home, expanding his compassionate service across several Indiana towns.
Bob and Marge dove into the heart of Bedford, making friends who became family. Bob’s commitment was evident in his tireless dedication to organizations such as the Kiwanis Club, Elks 826, the American Legion, and his role as President of the Indiana Funeral Directors Association.
But when he wasn’t serving, he was cheering. For 68 consecutive years, in good seasons and bad, Bob held season tickets for Indiana University football and basketball. His tailgate was legendary—an open invitation to all, a place where rivalries paused, and Hoosier spirit reigned supreme.
His greatest adventure, however, lay on the water. A long-time member of the United States Power Squadron, Bob accomplished the incredible feat of completing the “Great Loop,” a challenging 6,000-mile boating journey around the eastern United States and Canada. Whether on Kentucky Lake or in Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands, he loved the sail, the sound, and the sport of fishing, where, almost impossibly, he always managed to catch the biggest fish and the most fish.
Above all his accomplishments—the businesses, the titles, the trophies—was his family. Bob’s proudest roles were as husband to Marge, father to Julie, Sarah, Christopher, and Andrew, grandfather to twelve, and great-grandfather to six. He was immensely proud of them all, always ready to discuss their lives, accomplishments, and future plans.
The funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Bedford, the culmination of a life lived exactly as he wanted: surrounded by love, devoted to his community, and always ready for the next adventure. Though the cornet and the engine have quieted, the indelible echoes of Bob Lee’s generous, unsinkable spirit will long endure in the hearts of his family and the town he so tirelessly served.
