Garage owner was a natural auto mechanic

11/2/2005

Robert W. Lusher, owner and operator of a Walbridge auto-repair shop for many years, died Friday in a daughter s home in North Carolina. He was 69.

Relatives declined to disclose the cause of death. He suffered a heart attack four years ago that forced him to retire from his business, Lusher s Garage.

Daughter Cheri Wynn said her father was a natural as a mechanic who began working on cars at another local garage at age 14. He used his paychecks to buy parts to work on other vehicles, and he went into business for himself before his 21st birthday.

He was always tearing things apart and putting them back together, Mrs. Wynn said.

In 1957, he married Gladys Wissinger, and they raised their family together and bowled together in the Rossford Eagles league. She cared for him after his heart attack until she herself became sick and died last year, a death that left Mr. Lusher very depressed, Mrs. Wynn said.

Mr. Lusher is survived by a son, Kayl; daughter, Cheri Wynn; sisters, Waverlee Jacobs and Donna Marsh; brother, Edward, and seven grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Walbridge. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday in the mortuary.