Robert Francis Lange

Robert “Bob” Francis Lange, 86, passed peacefully Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Francis Lange and Helen Adele Sage, and by his wife of 52 years, Katherine “Fern” Hill. Bob is survived by his sister, Therese Adele Lange of Albuquerque, New Mexico; his children Paul Robert Lange of Carolina Shores, NC; Patricia Adele Lange (Anne Schlegel) of Richmond, VA; and Jacqueline Anne Hill (Michael Hill) of Myrtle Beach, SC; granddaughter Elizabeth Lange Gisonni of Newtown, CT; and his beloved rescue dog, Jupiter.

Born in the Bronx and raised from age 10 in Lake Worth, Florida, Bob joined the Navy Reserves in 1956 and was called to active duty during the Lebanon crisis in 1958. He served as a third-class petty officer aboard the fuel supply ship USS Allagash until his honorable discharge in 1960 — where he learned that typing skills would promote you to captain’s administrative assistant and allow you to avoid overnight watches.

Bob began civilian life at Pratt & Whitney in 1962 as a timekeeper, and where a St. Patrick’s Day work party introduced him to Katherine “Fern” Hill. They married April 20, 1963, and set about building a life full of love, laughter, and unbound dedication to their children.

In 1967 Bob joined TWA at the Kennedy Space Center as supervisor of cost accounting. His work brought him face-to-face with history: he met President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy and shook hands with nearly all the astronauts of the era — after which he always liked to tell the story with the proud, slightly embarrassed grin of a man who once tried to explain accounting to an astronaut. Promoted to Manager of Special Contract Projects, and later Director of Flight Operations Budgets and Control, Bob’s career allowed the family to travel the world. He eventually rose to Vice President of TWA/Nippon before retiring with Fern from Yorktown Heights, New York to Calabash, NC, in 1994.

An avid golfer and sometime course ranger, Bob served as president of the Carolina Shores Golf Club in 1999. He loved the game, even if the course didn’t always love him back.   Those who had the joy of playing with him knew that this unrequited love was taken in stride and didn’t alter his passion for the game.

Bob will be fondly remembered for his deep love of family, cigars he swore were loved by all, an unapologetic devotion to good bourbon, auto racing enthusiasm that occasionally interrupted dinner conversation, and steadfast loyalty to the Detroit Lions (a practice in hope and patience). He wore Florida Gator gear with pride,  enjoyed mudslide cocktails at any time of the day, and collected cars and pets with equal enthusiasm. His list of favorite things was long, and he insisted they be enjoyed in good company.

If you’d like to honor Bob, raise a glass in his memory, take a friend to a round of golf, share a cigar and a story, wear a Gator shirt on his behalf, or make a donation to Disabled American Veterans or your local animal rescue organization — Jupiter gives these options two paws up.

Bob Lange will be missed, remembered, and joyfully imitated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Francis Lange, please visit our floral store.