Robert J. Nulph

Robert J. Nulph, 86, of Rossville and formerly of Lafayette died March 12, 2012 at IU Health Hospital. Born April 28, 1925 in Boyne City, Michigan to the late Alva and Lula (Pasch) Nulph. He graduated from Boyne City High School in 1943 and earned his B.S. degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1950. In 1951 he married Phyllis Johnson in Alma, Michigan and she died in 2006. For their 50th wedding anniversary the couple went ballooning and gliding. In 2008 he moved to Rossville upon his marriage to his second wife Barbara (McKee) Gochenour and she survives.

Mr. Nulph spent thirty seven years working in chemical laboratories, mostly in Michigan. He joined Great Lakes Chemical in West Lafayette in 1981 as a Senior Research Chemist and retired in 1987. He held about a dozen patents in flame retardant plastic compositions.

He was a WWII veteran serving in Europe as a 3rd Army Artillery Observer. He was a member of the Rossville Lions Club, had been a twenty five year member of the Congress Street United Methodist Church and was recently attending the Rossville United Methodist Church. An avid volunteer, beside lengthy stints with the Food Finders, Lafayette Adult Resource Academy and the Indiana Veteran’s Home, he spent over forty years with the Boy Scouts. With the Boy Scouts he served on the staff of six National Jamborees and was a leader at six Philmont Scout Ranch Expeditions. He was honored with the Governer’s Literacy Volunteer and the JC Penny Golden Rule Award.

Mr. Nulph enjoyed music, reading, crossword puzzles and traveling, with tours of South America, the Middle East, and several to Europe. He also served on Methodist Mission Teams to Brazil, St. Croix, V.I. and several to Appalachia.

Besides his parents and first wife, he is preceded in death by two brothers, Raymond and Ervin. Surviving are a brother, Kenneth of Florida, a daughter Nancy Gilman of Haslett, MI and a son, Steven Nulph of Mason, MI, two grandchildren, Emily and Andrew and two great grandchildren, Ella and Colton.
He is also survived by a step-son, Rick (wife Kris) Gochenour , step-daughter, Shana (husband Jeff) Bordner,  five step grandchildren, Dylan, Mariah, Kayleigh, Shania and Jeffra

Funeral Services will be held at the Rossville United Methodist Church on Friday March 16, 2012 at 11:30AM with Rev. Rick Jones officiating. Calling hours will be from 9:00AM until the time of service at the church. Burial will take place at Chapel Gardens Cemetery in Alma, MI. Memorials may be made to the Links of Love, c/o the Rossville United Methodist Church.