World War II veteran grew to manage NCR force of thousands

Robert Gaines

Robert Gaines

Robert Gaines Sr., who served in the Navy in World War II before rising through the ranks at NCR and living an active life past 100, has died. He was 101.

READ MORE: Dayton Daily News obituaries

Gaines grew up in Dayton and met his future wife of almost 74 years while he pushed her on a swing as young children, according to his obituary. He served in the Navy during World War II and grew at NCR from a repairman to Vice President of Field Engineering, which included him directing a nationwide workforce of 7,000.

Later in life, he took on household duties to help his wife, which led her to place a magnet on the refrigerator that read, "A woman never shot a man while he was doing the dishes."

He was also at times a singer, ham radio operator and golfer.

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