Bob Christie

Bob Christie, age 85, of Grants Pass, died Monday, June 1, 2009 at his home.

Family services will be held. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Remembrances may be made in Bob’s name to Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 1332 North Halsted Street Suite 201, Chicago Illinois 60642; phone 312-587-9272; fax 312-587-9273; website-pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

Bob was born April 4, 1924 in Grants Pass to Floyd & Viola Christie. He was raised in Grants Pass and attended Grants Pass High School. In 1940 he started racing midgets on the dirt track at the old fairgrounds. He then raced stock cars at the Riverside Race Track at Daytona. In 1954 he moved to Indianapolis. In 1956 he qualified for his first Indianapolis 500 where he qualified and raced for six years finishing as high as 10th place in 1960. In the early 1950s he participated in four Carrera Panamericana road races in Mexico with Kay Woods as his copilot and mechanic. He then worked for Firestone for a short time and later for JCPenney in New York City opening their automotive centers for ten years. After moving to Cleveland, Ohio he worked for Mr. Gasket Company as a customer service manager until 1978 when he moved to Columbus, Ohio and owned and operated B.C. Sales & Marketing for 16 years until his retirement at age 74. On January 18, 1980 in Columbus, Ohio he married Karin Herrmann. In 2001 he returned to Grants Pass to live.

In 1964 Bob received the Angelo Angelopolous Memorial Award presented annually to the 500 mile race participant who best exemplifies the creed of good sportsmanship. The award is given by the American Automobile Racing Writers and Broadcasting Association.

He earned his pilot’s license and flew from the late 1940s to early 1950s and even flew under the Caveman Bridge. He enjoyed anything related to racing; reading; fishing; and his dogs, Molly and Annie.

In addition to his wife, Karin Christie of Grants Pass; he is survived by five daughters, Dianne Weston of Grants Pass, Patricia Green of Grants Pass, Gretchen Stalcup of Estacada, Linda Christie of Azalea, and Shannon Roberts of Indianapolis, Indiana; a son, Samuel Christie of Louisville, Kentucky; a sister, Carolyn Morton of Grants Pass; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Roland Christie.

For more information about Bob, please google 'Bob Christie Indy 500' on the web.