Obituary Published on June 14th in the
Chronicle Tribune Newspaper
Marion, Indiana
Your Connection To
Grant County, Indiana
Robert Wysong, 92, was born in Marion in 1923 to Ira and Lucille. He died June 1, 2015 in Maryland. A star student and Eagle Scout, he was chosen by the Marion American Legion as someone who would do well, and awarded their leadership medal at least 75 years ago. They were right. He did do well: World War II Vet, U.S. diplomat, linguist and excellent father and grandfather. He showed that small town people can find, predict and encourage young people's excellence. He leaves a wife, 5 children, 14 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
News Story Published on June 5th in the
Chronicle Tribune Newspaper
Marion, Indiana
Your Connection To
Grant County, Indiana
Marion Native, American Consul, Dies At 92
World War II Veteran, Distinguished Diplomat Learned Values In Marion, Indiana
From his humble beginnings in Marion to his life abroad as an American consul, Robert Wysong lived a fulfilling life.News Story Published on June 5th in the
Chronicle Tribune NewspaperMarion Native, American Consul, Dies At 92
World War II Veteran, Distinguished Diplomat Learned Values In Marion, Indiana
Robert Wysong passed away June 1 in Gaithersburg, Md., at age 92. His burial will be this morning at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring, Md.
He grew up on East Sherman Street. His father, Ira Wysong, came from a
long line of bricklayers, and his mother, Vera Lucille Wysong, worked in a glove factory.
Robert Wysong carved out his niche in Marion as a gifted student and as a Boy Scout. His daughter, Linda Weld, of Gakona, Alaska, recalled trips to Marion in which his mother showed her his Boy Scout badges. Wysong was an Eagle Scout, the highest attainable ranking in the Boy Scout program.
A Marion chapter awarded her father the American Legion School Award, honoring him for courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service.
He graduated with his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland and a master's degree in linguistics from Georgetown University. Late in his life, he volunteered his services as a computer graphic designer and map maker for a company run by Weld and her husband.
Robert Wysong occasionally returned to Marion with family in tow to visit his parents until they passed away. The trips to Marion left a lasting impression on his daughter. "I loved Marion. Marion was fun. It was wonderfully 'American'," said Weld, who credited the city for instilling values in her father and preparing him for an extraordinarily successful career.
