Robert Joe "Popeye" Mounts

Robert Joe “Popeye” Mounts, age 89, of Evansville, IN, passed away at 1:12 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at home, surrounded by his family.

Bob was born September 29, 1931 in Gibson County, IN to the late William and Dorothy (Garver) Mounts.

Around the age of four, his family moved to Cynthiana, and when he was about 7 years old, he got the nickname of “Popeye” from grocery store owner, Curtis Epperson. That nickname, Popeye, followed him through his entire life.

Robert attended Cynthiana High School. Throughout high school, he worked on many jobs with his father doing plumbing while also mowing lawns and helping out on watermelon and cantaloupe farms. Shortly after graduating high school in 1949, he went to work for Briggs where he worked with manufacturing automobiles. During this time, he joined the National Guard, and in 1952, he went into the United States Army during the Korean War.

Robert and his wife, Lodema got married on June 21, 1952 at Fort Branch Methodist Church.

After 2 years in the Army, he came home and went back to work nights at Briggs while starting college at the University of Evansville. While attending college, their daughter Belinda was born.

Anyone that knows Robert knows he had a strong work ethic and aspired for success in everything he did. After graduating from UE, he began work in the accounting department of General Foods, and within a year, he was promoted to manager of the nine grain elevators in the southern part of Illinois and Indiana. Two years later, he got a position at Central Industries where he worked three positions before being promoted to president.

During this time, he received an MBA from Indiana State University and was also president of the Evansville Chapter for the National Association of Accountants, all the while being highly involved in their children’s extracurriculars. He was a strong part in the beginning of high school soccer in Evansville and was one of the early coaches at North High School where his son, James, played soccer for 4 years. 

When he was 55 years old, he retired from Central Industries; however, retirement didn’t last long. Within a year, his wife said he had to do something, so he went to work at Kemper CPA and worked there until he was 80 years old, FINALLY retiring for good.

Robert and Lodema belonged to a lot of dance clubs during their younger years. They were members of the Coterie Dance Club and several square dance clubs that allowed them to travel all over the country to square dance festivals. Robert also loved to play handball, and he took part in tournaments well into his 80s.

Robert was a member of Bluegrass Church and was a past member of Central United Methodist Church.

He loved his family, never missing an opportunity to take a vacation to the beach or travel out west. Once he had grandchildren, that love of family only grew. He never missed a soccer game, swim meet, band concert, or dance recital. He was their biggest fan.

Robert is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Lodema (Kramer) Mounts; daughter, Belinda Rideout (Rob); son, James Mounts (Melissa); grandchildren, Bailey, Michael, Jestin, Tuesday, and Denver; great grandchildren, Ellis, Carter, and Ryan; sister, Bonnie Bell Elpers (Darvin); and brothers, David Mounts (Marilyn) and Richard Mounts (Delores).

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, William and Dorothy Mounts; sisters, Connie Nell Lockyear and Greta Rae Mounts; and brother, Kenneth Mounts.

Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 19, 2020, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue with Reverend Doug Heiman officiating. A Live Stream will be available beginning twenty minutes prior to the service time. Please visit www.boonefuneralhome.net, select your loved one’s obituary, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click Live Stream. Burial will be in Walnut Hills Cemetery in Fort Branch, IN. 

Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until service time, Thursday, November 19, 2020, at BOONE FUNERAL HOME EAST CHAPEL.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: Bluegrass Church at 14200 Petersburg Road, Evansville, IN 47725.

Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net

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