Commander Robert Richard (ret)

Robert R. Zseltvay, Sr., 87, U. S. Navy Commander (ret), died Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at Maury Regional Medical Center. A memorial service will be conducted Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church with The Rev. Richard Zalesak officiating. The family will visit with friends following the service in the Parish Hall. Graveside services will be at 4:00 p.m. in Santa Fe Cemetery with full military honors provided by the U. S. Navy Honor Guard. The family suggests memorials to Cincinnati Shriners Hospital, c/0 Vanessa Nicely, 3229 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3095 or St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 311 West 7th Street, Columbia 38401. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. A native of New Rochelle, New York, he was the son of the late Margaret and Andrew Zseltvay. His 23 year career in the U. S. Navy included service during World War II and the Korean War. Mr. Zseltvay worked for 16 years as a commercial radio operator for RCA. He made his home in the Santa Fe Community for a number of years prior to moving to Columbia. A 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason, he was raised to Master Mason October 2, 1976; was a member and served as Master of Benton Lodge #111 in 1980; and was a Shriner. He was a communicant of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Columbia and wherever he was stationed during his military career, he joined and was active in he local Episcopal church and served on the building committee for several Parishes. He was married December 25, 1944 to the former Sarah Catherine Mullins of the Santa Fe Community. She preceded him in death September 2, 1998. Survivors include sons, Robert Richard "Dick" (Mary) Zseltvay, Jr. of Franklin and Donald Walker Zseltvay of Nashville; grandchildren, Robert Richard Zseltvay, III and Martha Catherine "Catie" (James) Caldwell, both of Franklin; sisters-in-law, Peggy Zseltvay of North Carolina and Helen Manning of Nashville; loving friend, Betty Russell of Columbia. He was preceded in death by a brother, Andrew Zseltvay.