A longtime Bellefontaine businessman, public servant, and community advocate has passed away.
Robert J. “Big Bob” Notestine Jr., 97, of Bellefontaine, died Monday.
Notestine was widely known throughout Logan County for his decades of business leadership and civic involvement.
After serving in the United States Air Force, he returned to Bellefontaine and worked for the railroad before becoming manager of Sherwin-Williams, a position he held for more than 20 years.
Throughout his career, he owned and operated several businesses and restaurants in the area, including Bob’s Dairy King/Hamburger on South Main Street, later the Dutch Mill Restaurant, and later the Bob ‘N’ Restaurant, which he ran with his wife.
He later owned Factory Direct Sales on South Elm Street, remaining involved with the business until 2019.
Notestine was also deeply involved in the community.
He served as a Bellefontaine City Councilman and was elected mayor in 1967.
He volunteered for many years with the Boy Scouts, earning the Silver Beaver Award, and helped promote the community’s Safety Town program, which has taught safety lessons to local children for more than six decades.
He was the last surviving original charter member of the Logan County Historical Society and remained active in numerous civic groups, including the Kiwanis Club, Exchange Club, Jaycees, and the Logan County Friendly Senior Center board.
Notestine is survived by his wife, Dorothy & their 3 sons, Robert, Timothy & Mark, as well as many other family members and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14, at Eichholtz & Daring Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Bellefontaine.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Find Notestine’s full obituary HERE.
