Robert "Bob" Halvorsen

Robert (Bob) Halvorsen, age 83, Maryville, died on October 21, 2018, at Parkwest Hospital. Preceded in death by his first wife, Jan Halvorsen, and his parents, Halfdan and Louise Halvorsen. Survivors include his beloved wife of 38 years, Judith (Judy) Kennedy McGraw Halvorsen; sons, Greg (Ivana) Halvorsen, New York, NY, Dan McGraw, Scottsdale, AZ, David (Heather) McGraw, Denver, CO; grandchildren, Shane (Vanessa) McGraw, Sarah and Shannon McGraw, Brian, Adrian and Evan Halvorsen and William Robert McGraw; brothers, Roger Halvorsen, Kents Hill, ME, and Richard Halvorsen, Nashua, NH. Bob was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church in Maryville and Gideons International. Bob was born in Brooklyn, NY, raised by extraordinary, Norwegian, immigrant parents. He worked three jobs at the same time to pay for college and graduated from Tufts University, Medford, MA, with a B.S. in Chemistry. He served with honor in the United States Army and was then recruited by Union Carbide for his critical skills, where he worked in the lab, then as a Marketing Analyst in New York, NY, then promoted to Account Executive, with sales responsibilities throughout the United States. One of his accounts, the Indianapolis 500, invited him to drive a car around the 500 Oval, which thrilled him. The State of Kentucky awarded Bob the Honor of Kentucky Colonel for outstanding business leadership. After retiring from Union Carbide at age 50, Bob became International Sales Director for Halox Incorporated, where he directed all sales operations at the Halox headquarters, as well as all 50 states and 37 countries around the world. He traveled extensively, always including Gideon Bibles in his suitcase. Upon his retirement, he and his wife launched Charis, Inc., in Maryville, TN, which marketed specialty products throughout the United States until 2005. Bob taught both adult and high school Sunday School and gave the message at Pacific Garden Mission, Chicago, IL, twice. He also mentored residents of that Mission, as well as those incarcerated in Juvenile Detention Facilities in the Chicago area. He was an active Gideon in East Tennessee until his illness. Bob was gifted with a love and compassion for people. Described by his business associates as a gentleman and a man of integrity, a brilliant chemist and a fierce competitor, to Bobs family and friends, he was someone of unconditional love, with an engaging, warm personality, great sense of humor, a strong faith and a steadfast husband, father, grandfather and friend. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. with Visitation from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at McCammon-Ammons-Click, Maryville. In lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts may be made to Gideons International, The Alzheimers Association of East Tennessee, or Fairview United Methodist Food Pantry.