Robert Bires
Robert Edward Bires, 92, of Chattanooga, died on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at Elmcroft of Gunbarrel.
Mr. Bires was born March 25, 1926, in Aliquippa, Pa., the son of the late Henry Bires and Marie Kerevac, and grew up in Midland, Pa., where he excelled as both a student and as an athlete. Drafted into the Army in 1944 out of high school, he served with the Army Air Corps in World War II as an airplane mechanic, primarily on Guam and New Guinea, attaining the rank of Master Sergeant.
After his discharge in 1946, he attended the University of Missouri and Ohio University on the G.I. Bill and began a long career as a financial officer in several corporations, including RCA, McKay, and Action Industries. In 1978, he left the corporate world to open a racquet club in Pittsburgh with his wife, Corrinne.
A lifelong Pittsburgh Steeler fan, Mr. Bires also enjoyed in his later years running an online pottery business, advising his sons’ careers, and traveling to support the myriad activities of his grandchildren, including softball, ballet, dance, and theater. He will be remembered as a man who loved his family more than anything.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Corrinne Eshelman, and his brother, William Bires.
He is survived by his sons, Mark Bires, of Chicago, and Robert Bires, of Chattanooga; their wives, Mindy Friedler, of Chicago, and Robin Miller, of Chattanooga; his grandchildren, Sean Bires and Cassidy Kraus (and husband, Sean Kraus), of Chicago, Kathleen Bires (and husband, Justin Stappler) and Emma Bires, of Nashville, and Molly Bires, of Tel Aviv, Israel.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Amedysis Hospice.
Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share condolences with the family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Heritage Funeral Home of Chattanooga.