Obituary of Robert Earl Gist

Robert Earl Gist, “Bob”, “Carlos”, age 77, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Sunday November 15, 2020 at Cedar Grove Respiratory and Nursing Care Center, Williamstown, New Jersey. He was born July 27, 1943 in Buffalo, New York to the late Ellaree Johnson Sanford and Henry Gist. He was baptized at an early age. In 1961, he graduated from Lafayette High School in Buffalo, New York. While attending college at South Carolina State University, Orangeburg SC, Robert became a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity Inc., the concert and marching band, and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). After graduating college in May of 1965 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in chemistry, he entered into active duty with United States Army Chemical Corps. Stationed at Ft. McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, Robert served 2 years as a first lieutenant earning a national defense service award during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1967. Continuing to embark on his career, he began as a high school chemistry teacher in South Carolina, and then went on to become a bench chemist, conducting analytical chemical research for Dupont in Buffalo, NY. In addition to analytical science, Robert worked in the consumer goods industry by managing the plant operations for R.T. French & Co., in Rochester, NY, and by serving as a sales representative for Ford Motor Co., in Buffalo, NY. His experience in analytical chemistry research, and sales, opened up an opportunity that involved representing the Hooker Chemical Corp/Occidental Co., based in Niagara Falls, NY. As a sales representative he successfully marketed several commodity chemicals to various other chemical corporations throughout the United States east coast. At the time of retirement Robert managed rental properties as a landlord in Camden, NJ for Partners LLC. Robert was predeceased by his brother James Gist and sister Lisa Anne Gist. Surviving are his wife, Pauletta Carstarphen-Gist, (Camden, NJ); mother-in-law, Madeline (Camden, NJ); grandmother-in-law; Pauline (Camden, NJ); sister-in-law, Lillian (Camden, NJ). Five daughters, Antoinette Ingrid Rogers (Kevin Sr.), Ocean, NJ; Bernadette Avis Odoms (Rashid Sr.), Neptune, NJ; Ellaree Gist, Atlanta, GA; Charale Gist-Stewart (JJ), Atlanta, GA; Renee Alice Gist, Bristow, VA. Five grandchildren, Kevin C. Rogers Jr. (Caroline), Kimberly A. Rogers, Rashid I. Odoms Jr., Malachai Binion, London Cain. One niece, Paulette Marie Springer (SC). Two nephews, Nelson Gist; Johnathan Springer. One Aunt, Lillian Johnson (Buffalo, NY), Cousins Judith Dixon (Roger) Rock Hill SC; Al Singleton (Greeleyville SC), Jeff Carl Singleton (Greeleyville SC), JB Barney (Camden, NJ); Dear friends, Bill, Diy, and Abe, along with a host of cousins, family and friends. Visitation is 10:30am –12:30pm Monday Nov. 23 at May Funeral Home, Camden NJ. Burial is 1:00pm Monday Nov. 23 at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown NJ. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Respiratory Care Foundation https://www.arcfoundation.org/