Mr. Robert L. "Bob" Savage, 87, of Hartwell, graduated from his earthly life on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at his home on Lake Hartwell.

Born on April 11, 1937 in Winter Haven, FL, Bob was the adopted son of the late Robert and Edith Bass Savage of that city. He and Annette came to Hart County from the Atlanta area first as weekenders in 1981 and then as residents in 2003. He is a believer in Jesus Christ and attempted to practice that belief as an active member of First Baptist Church of Hartwell.

Bob graduated from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University) with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and as a NROTC Distinguished Military Graduate.  Through evening classes he later earned a Master of Commercial Science (Business Administration) from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL.

Following his time at Auburn, Bob served four years in the U.S. Navy in Washington, D.C. as an electronics engineer and shipyard liaison officer for the then newly emerging nuclear submarine construction program under Vice Admiral Hymen S. Rickover – the father of America's nuclear navy." These roles were performed while assigned jointly to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission's Naval Reactors Branch and the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ships' Nuclear Power Division.

Upon leaving the Navy, Bob began a career of almost three decades in the telecommunications industry with the Marketing and the Pricing and Economics Departments of Southern Bell, AT&T and Bellsouth.  Early on he set up and supervised Southern Bell's first data communications sales organization for Orlando and all of central Florida, and later moved to the Cape Canaveral area as the company's District Marketing Manager and Account Manager for NASA's Kennedy Space Center during the Apollo/Saturn Moon Landing missions. This was followed by assignments in Jacksonville and Miami pricing statewide telecommunications offerings in FL; in NY and NJ pricing services throughout the nation for AT&T; and supervising the pricing staffs and testifying about proposed prices and costs in almost 30 major cases before the Public Service Commissions in FL, GA, NC and SC. Lastly, with the breakup of the old Bell System, Bob set up the first combined staff of Bellsouth's data analysts in Atlanta (Southern Bell) and Birmingham (South Central Bell).  He supervised that organization's work in AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC and TN from 1985 until 1991 when, as their Director-Service Costs, he took an early-retirement offer.

Two years earlier, in 1989, Bob assisted Annette when she opened their small specialty toy store in Dunwoody, GA and together they ran the very successful "Toy School" for sixteen years. It won international merchandising awards in 1991 and 1992, and was extremely popular locally, being named Atlanta Magazine's Best Toy Store in Atlanta in 1994. Then – as "brick and mortar" retail marketing began to undergo increasingly major changes nationally - Annette and Bob closed it in 1999 to relocate to Hartwell and concentrate on its offshoot – the Toy School Corners – in small town retail stores in GA and SC.

Once in Hartwell, Bob joined the community by teaching at the adult learning center and becoming an active member of American Legion Post 109 and the Rotary Club. He also originated The American Foundation for Furthering Ideas that Rekindle the Miracle of 1776 (or AFFIRM 1776) – an IRS approved 501(c) (3) nonprofit – designed to promote America in the manner of our founders in 1776 and 1787; recognize and assist veterans and first-responders; and promote our nation's flag. In a similar vein, Bob authored three published books on ideas for improving our American governments.

Bob is survived by Annette, his wife of 65 years; one son: Robert Keith Savage; daughter-in-law: Lisa Savage: three grandsons and their wives: Michael Scott and Chan, Sean Robert and Jessica, Kyle Thomas and Beth; four great grandsons: Laken, Colt, Lucas and Noah, and one sister: Jeni Gorrell. He was preceded in death by his daughter: Lorri Ann Savage.

Bob wished to be cremated and a graduation service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell with Dr. Stuart Lang and Rev. Carter Tucker officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Hartwell, 81 E. Howell Street, Hartwell GA 30643 or Eagle Ranch, PO Box 7200, Chestnut Mountain, GA 30502.

A special thanks to Bob's Hospice caregivers, Marcie Wright and Teri Burden.

The Strickland Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements.