Bob Olen McLean , age 86, recently of Alto, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2024 in Lafayette, Indiana.

Born August 7, 1938 in Garland County Arkansas, Bob was the first of 5 siblings. Growing up, the family spent time in Coos Bay, Oregon, Caddo Gap, Arkansas, and then Wren, Ohio. Bob graduated from Wren Village High School in 1956. He began working for Marsh Supermarkets in Van Wert, Ohio. He married, started a family, and took business courses. He relocated his family several times as his career grew, from Wapakoneta, Ohio, to Fort Wayne, Indiana, before landing in West Lafayette, Indiana. Bob left the Marsh Corporation after 25 years to run his own IGA grocery store in Boswell, Indiana with his wife Deb and their daughters.

Bob was formerly active in the Otterbein, Indiana Rotary Club and was a former member of the Boswell Free Methodist Church, often as a lay preacher. He worked for McCreary Auto in Fowler for several years and with Steve Hands Auto in Otterbein and was affectionately known as Mac.

He retired to Alto, Texas in a house he built with his wife. There he was an active member of the First Baptist Church and enjoyed being an occasional substitute teacher at Alto High School. Bob was an avid gardener, passionate about planting and growing roses and fruit trees, and puttering in the yard.

Bob is survived by his wife of 46 years Deborah Dumford McLean, 2 brothers, Verne and Samuel McLean, 5 daughters, Tamara Goode (Brent), Terri Waschezyn, Traci Hewitt (Mark), Tonya Copley (Ralph), Marci Short Cochran (Mick), 1 son, Joseph McLean (Kelly), 1 son in-law, Mark Balser, 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Holland and Verna Frances (Long) McLean, daughter, Kelly Short Balser, sister, Linda Bockey, son in-law, Gregory Waschezyn and brother, Jon McLean.

Visitation will be Friday, January 3, 2025, from 11am until time of Memorial service at 1pm, with Pastor Ryan Van Metre officiating, at Shoemaker Funeral Home, Otterbein. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Alto First Baptist Church, 235 San Antonio Road, Alto, Texas 75925. https://www.fbcalto.net/give. Visit Shoemaker Funeral Home-Otterbein, Indiana Facebook page or www.shoemakerfh.com to leave any condolences or to share a photo or memory of Bob.