Robert N. “Bob” Westerfield

Age 93, of Lansing, MI, passed away peacefully Monday, March 6, 2023. He was the middle child born on October 16, 1929 to the late Henry and Evalee Westerfield. Originally raised in Owensboro, Kentucky, he worked in his father’s O’Henry’s Inn restaurant as a young man mixing up shakes and malts, likely the origin of his notorious sweet tooth.

After a brief relocation to Florida, Bob would go on to meet the love of his life, Stephanie, in the high school glee club in Ft. Lauderdale where they would jitterbug on the lanai at lunchtime. Bob started college at Florida State, though enlisted with the Navy soon after. Stationed on the USS Colonial, he sailed across the Pacific Ocean multiple times proudly serving his country in the Korean War. Following his honorable discharge in 1954, he and Stephanie married and he completed his Bachelor’s in General Business at Michigan State University on the G.I. Bill, class of ’58. He went on to work for Oldsmobile where he was a Supply Chain Manager until his retirement in 1987. And he “never shut the line down.”

Throughout his life he sang Bass with various music groups, including CUMC Adult choir (where he was a most faithful congregation member for over 50 years) and Orpheus men’s chorus. A long-time member of Lion’s Club of Lansing, he administered the Eyeglasses for the Poor program for many years. He loved Michigan State athletics, reading, movies, music, photography, birds and enjoyed traveling all over the US and worldwide.

He was predeceased by his cherished wife of 63 years, Stephanie, all his beloved siblings, Danny, and twins Nathelyn and Jacquelyn. He is survived by son Stephen (Kerry) Westerfield, daughter Julie (Rodrigo Sanchez) Westerfield, grandchildren Samuel Kirkey, PJ (Luke) Gilmore, Nathan (Brooke) Westerfield, Erin (Marshall) Cornett, Baylie Sanchez, great-grandchildren Riley, Margo & Calla Gilmore and twins Eliza and Olivia Cornett, and many much-adored nieces and nephews. He made a friend everywhere he went and will be enormously missed by us all.

The funeral for Bob will be Tuesday, March 14, 2023, 11:00 a.m., at Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing, Michigan 48933. His family will receive friends on Monday, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing, Michigan 48933, and also one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Lions Club of Lansing, and Orpheus Men’s Chorus of Lansing.