Robert E. Sturgeon, age 87, Washington on Friday at 3 p.m. returned to his heavenly home. He was a son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather, but most of all, our very best friend. Born September 25, 1920 in Washington, he was the son of Mabin and Catherine (Yarbrough) Sturgeon. He attended Longfellow School and Washington High School and was a member of St. Simon Catholic Church. He had 23 years of service with the B & O Railroad. Upon retirement, he kept government statistics of the local weather and repaired lawn mowers for 20 years. His hobbies included breeding and raising homing pigeons for which he won several tournaments. He was an avid CB radio operator, conversing with people worldwide, several of whom sent postcards. Surviving is his wife of 65 years, Eleanor Ruth (Mattingly) Sturgeon, whom he married March 6, 1943; three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert "Bobby" E. and Marsha Sturgeon and Mark A. and Jane Sturgeon all of Washington, and Douglas "Mike" and Robin Sturgeon of Crown Point; two daughters and son-in-law, Jacquelyn J. O'Bryan and Fred Ubbenga and Sandi Steimel all of Washington; one brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Eleanor Sturgeon of Washington; nine grandchildren, Sherry Doyle of Harrison, TN, Rodney Sturgeon of Merrillville, Michael O'Bryan of Indianapolis, Erik Parsons of Evansville, Annie and Lizzie Sturgeon of Crown Point, and Jessica Steimel, Mark Anthony Sturgeon, and Alyssa Gilley all of Washington; four step grandchildren, Lonnie Byrd of Jasper, Autumn Mendoza of Bloomington, and Sean Byrd and Dustin Mathis both of Washington; eight great grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He is preceded in death by his parents; one infant son, Jeffrey Lynn Sturgeon; one infant granddaughter, Mary Ann Sturgeon; three brothers, Eugene, Leslie, and Joseph Sturgeon; and two sisters, Camilla Baumert and Eldena Myers. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Simon Catholic Church with Father Gordon Mann as celebrant. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Ed Lee Mortuary with a wake service at 4 p.m. Preferred memorials may be made to the Catholic Education Endowment, Inc, P. O. Box 916, Washington, IN 47501. Online condolences may be made at www.edleemortuary.com.