Robert Anthony Scholar of Ajijic died January 2 at the age of 86.
Scholar was born May 15, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois to immigrant parents and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II in the Philippines.
When he returned home to Chicago, Scholar met Rachel Sager, a registered nurse. They were married in 1955 at the University of Chicago Chapel by Granger Westberg, the founder of Parish Nursing.
Scholar worked for the Government Services Administration and later established his own business restoring old homes. The Scholars made a move to North Carolina in 1980 and spent the next 25 years in Hillsborough and Chapel Hill, where Bob restored homes and built affordable homes.
The Scholars saw the world together, traveling around North America, Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, Africa and a sailing trip around the Caribbean.
He and Rachel had three children, Bill, David and Jane. They say that he always provided wisdom and worldly experience and was slow to pass judgment.
The Scholars retired to Ajijic in 2005, where they led a simple, quiet life.
Scholar is preceded in death by his parents, his son Bill and his sister Gloria. He is survived by his wife Rachel of Ajijic, son David, daughter Jane and grandchildren Johanna, Trevor, Byran, Chiara, Eric, Alexis and Sterling. He had three great-grandchildren, William, Josiah and Ellie.
He is also survived by his brother Paul (wife Dee), nephews Paul, David and Josh and nieces Barbara and Jessica.
Scholar wished good will to all people.