Robert "Bob" S. McNaught

In Loving Memory of Robert (Bob) McNaught

November 15, 1940 – September 2, 2025

Robert “Bob” McNaught, age 84, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2025, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded by love, compassion, and the comforting care of Ohio’s Hospice of Butler & Warren Counties, to whom the family extends their deepest gratitude for their extraordinary support during his final days.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 15, 1940, to Rose Isabelle (Grose) and Leonard Scott McNaught, Bob grew up alongside his sisters, Janet and Susan. His early years took him briefly to California before his family settled in Monticello, Indiana, where he would graduate from Monticello High School in 1958. There, he was a proud member of the regional championship basketball team and a decorated track athlete.

Later that same year, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following training in San Diego, Norman (OK), and Memphis (TN), he served with distinction as a Radio Operator and Navigator aboard P-2 Neptune patrol aircraft, charged with tracking Soviet military vessels across the frigid expanse of the Bering Sea during the Cold War. He and his crew were stationed in the remote Aleutian Islands of Alaska — an unforgiving place at an unforgiving time in world history.

Bob once recounted a moment when their radar picked up what could have been a pod of whales. With black coffee thick as mud and visibility poor, the crew investigated — and discovered a Soviet destroyer. As their P-2 Neptune approached, the Russian ship trained its deck guns on the plane. Rather than retreat, Bob’s pilot dove to within 100 feet of the icy sea and opened the bomb bay doors in a simulated attack. It worked: startled Russian sailors leapt from the destroyer’s deck into the freezing water. It was a harrowing and heroic moment that embodied Bob’s calm under pressure, sense of duty, and quiet bravery.

He was honorably discharged from active service in 1962 and remained in the reserves through the Cuban Missile Crisis until 1964.

After the Navy, Bob was recruited by NCR Corporation, beginning a 32-year career that spanned technical, instructional, and management roles. He started as a field engineer in Oakland, California, supporting banking systems — and enjoying season tickets to the Oakland Raiders, even swapping stories with players at a favorite local bar. He later moved to NCR’s headquarters in Dayton, Ohio, where he trained engineers and new salespeople from around the world. In 1984, he became an IT group manager in the company’s education division until his retirement in 1993.

Bob was a deeply devoted father to his children, Cindy and Mike. Always present, always patient, he was the kind of dad who didn’t just supervise the fun — he joined in. Neighborhood kids loved him for his playful spirit, and his own children cherished his unwavering love and guidance throughout their lives.

In 1993, Bob married Nelta Baker, the love of his life, in a beautiful waterfall ceremony in Maui, Hawaii, a trip and experience the loving pair would revisit on their tenth anniversary. Their marriage was filled with laughter, partnership, and adventure — from train excursions through the American West to hikes through Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. They celebrated their 25th anniversary visiting the awe-inspiring national parks of Utah and Arizona.

Bob also had a special bond with Nelta’s parents, Nelson and Leota Baker, especially her father, to whom he was a loving and attentive son-in-law.

Bob was fascinated by history, technology, and transportation — often diving deep into archives of old planes, trains, and automobiles. He generously used his computer skills to help friends and family, becoming the go-to tech support for many. He brought that same quiet thoughtfulness and dependability to every relationship in his life.

Bob’s life was a steady, loving presence in a fast-changing world. He lived with humility, served with honor, gave generously, and loved deeply. His wisdom, warmth, and humor touched everyone lucky enough to know him. He will be remembered not only for the life he lived, but for the lives he made better by simply being himself.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Nelta, his daughter, Cindy, his sisters Janet and Susan, and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and community of friends. His legacy lives on in their hearts, stories, and memories.

Special thanks to Miami Valley Hospital's 5th Floor Care Team, Sgt. Jerry Ferris, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Ohio’s Hospice of Butler and Warren Counties.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 3940 Kettering Blvd. Service will begin at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Tom Myers to officiate. Bob's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Please register below to watch.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in memoriam to Ohio’s Hospice of Butler and Warren Counties and/or American Red Cross.