Robert D. Hamontre

Saturday, April 21, 2007

June 25, 1932-April 18, 2007

Robert D. Hamontre, 74, Punta Gorda, Fla., died Wednesday at his residence.

Born in Bridgeton, he was the son of Marion and Beatrice (Jones) Hamontre.

A 1950 graduate of George Washington High School, he had attended DePauw University and Indiana University. A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he had been a production manager for the Putnam County Graphic weekly newspaper from 1955-61. He then owned Romilda Printing Co. in Greencastle from 1961-64, and was general manager of the Bloomington Courier-Tribune from 1968-74. He worked as CEO of Suburban Communication newspaper group, and owned four Quick Print printing shops in Bloomington and Nashville from 1978-94. He and his wife opened the Pine Box Musical Theatre in Nashville in 1989. It closed in 2005.

He was a member of the Greencastle Lions Club and was the 1962 recipient of the Lions International award "Man with 40,000 Sweethearts." He was also a member of the Greencastle Elks Club, Bloomington American Legion and VFW and was a charter member of the Bloomington Yacht Club.

He married Romilda England on June 28, 1957 in Indianapolis. She survives.

Also surviving are son Michael Cole Hamontre, Brown County; his mother, Dupage, Ill.; and a sister, Judith Kay Hamontre, Darien, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the old Pine Box Musical Theater, Nashville, with Roger Dean and Rev. Dick Crowley officiating. A graveside service is set for 3 p.m. Monday at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Catlin.

Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Sunday at the theater.

Arrangements are being handled by Meredith-Clark Funeral Home, Morgantown.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.meredith-clark.com.