Robert Thomas (Bob) Slusser, Sr., age 88, of 956 Ingalls Street, Clifton Forge, Virginia died Sunday, November 4, 2012 at his residence.

Bob was born December 29, 1923 in Fincastle, Virginia, to the late Robert Earl and Laura Kern Slusser, and grew up in Fincastle.

At seventeen, he had his parents sign him up for the United States Marine Corps and served during World War II in the Pacific Theatre, achieving the rank of Infantry Corporal in the 6th Marine Division, 22nd Regiment, C Company. He was wounded on the Island of Guam and recovered from his shrapnel injuries in Saipan. He then received a bullet wound from a Japanese soldier on the island of Okinawa, thirteen days after the Invasion of Okinawa. He was twice a recipient of the Purple Heart.

Following the end of the war, he located in Clifton Forge and became parts manager for Wood Chevrolet. He married Nancy Nicely of Clifton Forge, whose father owned and operated Nicely Funeral Home, then graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He received his Funeral Director's License in 1951, and as a Virginia Funeral Director and Embalmer, worked for over 60 years as Co-Owner and Co-Manager of Nicely Funeral Home, Inc.

Bob was a member of the Clifton Forge Masonic Lodge # 166 A.F. & A.M., Alleghany Royal Arch Chapter # 24 of Knights Templar, Alleghany Commandery # 23, Kazim Shriners A.A.O.N.M.S., Roanoke Court # 59 of the Royal Order of Jesters, Clifton Forge Shrine Club, and the former Hot Springs Shrine Club. He was also a lifetime member of the B.P.O.E Clifton Forge Lodge # 1065, and the Burnside-Carpenter VFW Post # 4299.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy O'Lee Nicely Slusser in 1998, and his sister and brother-in-law, Ann S. and Frank Linkenauger.

He is survived by his son, Robert Thomas "Tommy" Slusser, Jr. and his wife, Kelly of Clifton Forge; a grandson, Robert Kelly "Rob" Slusser, and a granddaughter, Sylvie O'Lee Slusser; a niece, Denise Sprinkle and husband, Pete of Fincastle; a nephew, Quinn Linkenauger and wife, Peggy of Fincastle; six great nieces and great nephews; special co-workers, John Mandeville, Sr. and Ronald Wright; and special friends, Stella Lowman, Francelia Cox, Mary Kay Nichols, Jo Anne Wilhelm, Dean Hicks, Wanda Woodward, Harvey Burns, and Herbert Sams.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend W. Pembroke Hall officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge.

Military honors will be presented at the graveside by members of the Burnside-Carpenter Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4299.

Pallbearers will be Quinn Linkenauger, Pete Sprinkle, Tom Beirne, Brandon Nicely, John Mandeville, Jr., Roger Schroeder, Scott Ayres, and Guy Michael Pullen. Honorary pallbearers will be Wallace Nunley, Harvey Chittum, Doug Glass, Tom Dean, Jack Hammond, Hank Via, Benny Albright, Connie Mack Kern, Chip Snead, Reverend Ed Mansfield, Jim Tennant, and Jimmy Drewry.

Friends may call any time Tuesday at Nicely Funeral Home, and the family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Burnside-Carpenter VFW Post 4299, P.O. Box 182, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.