• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Generous!We Are Presidential!We Are Having Fun!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Bob & Dottie Wopat

By MarionMade! on April 2, 2018

BOB & DOTTIE WOPAT.
 .
Operating under his lifelong philosophy to “never tell anyone how to do their job,” the late Bob Wopat and his wife, Dottie, left an open-ended legacy to the Marion community. And, neither was a Marion native.
 .
Bob was from Missouri and Dottie from Nebraska; they first came to Marion in 1949 following Bob’s career. They had no children and no heirs and so, in 2008, left a $17 million fortune with the Marion Community Foundation. (Bob and Dottie passed in 2008 and 2009, respectively.) This money created three funds–the Wopat Community Fund, the Wopat Scholarship Fund, and the Wopat YMCA Fund. The Community Fund is a grant fund that has supported community projects for nearly a decade, including the Palace Theatre, Marion County Special Olympics, Turning Point, Peace and Freedom Committee, Downtown Marion, and, most recently, MarionMade! The Scholarship Fund annually provides $100,000+ to the area’s top students. And, the YMCA Fund helps support that organization’s mission to the community.
 .
But, who were the Wopats? Bob held a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and made a career in the telecommunications industry. Having witnessed first-hand the technological advances from battery service and crank phones to the invention of the dial system, digital switching, and cellular technology, he knew the inevitability of change and created a means to provide funds open and available for ever-changing community needs.
 .
Bob’s career included service in World War II as a Naval officer and specialist in magnetic and acoustic firing devices. In 1964, Bob became president of GTE’s Ohio Operations, a position he held for 16 years until his retirement in 1980. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and was an avid golfer. Bob was a Rotarian and served on the Board of the former MedCenter Hospital and as a director of National City Bank.
 .
The Wopats married in 1940. While she held a teaching degree from the University of Nebraska, Dottie’s life was devoted to supporting her husband and his career. She was known as a keen Bridge player at the Marion Country Club and enjoyed floral design and dance.
 .
#WeAreMarionMade #WeArePhilanthropists

 

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Marion Area Chamber of Commerce: Supporting Marion’s Growth

    For 110 years, the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) has worked to support local businesses and grow our community. With 649 members, it represents small start-ups, major manufacturers and nonprofits. “We represent 60% of the businesses in Marion County and 80% of Marion’s workforce. We do not exist without our members,” said Heidi Jones, […]Read More »
  • Youth Engaged in Philanthropy

    What is philanthropy? Youth Engaged in Philanthropy is a program of Marion Community Foundation helping area high school students not only learn the answer to the “philanthropy” question, but also put it into practice. High school seniors from each of the Marion area schools meet monthly to learn more about our local community, organizations, and […]Read More »
  • Nurse Became Statewide Leader in Helping Survivors of Sexual Assault

    Darlene Schoonard rises to meet challenges. In the 1980s, Schoonard cared for her beloved grandmother while she battling cancer. “My grandmother was very supportive of me becoming a nurse. She would tell everyone that I was going to become a nurse,” Schoonard recalled. After her grandmother died, the busy working mom followed her dream. Schoonard […]Read More »
  • Hometown Businesses Appreciate Shopper Support

    When shoppers are searching for that perfect holiday present, they may not realize that each purchase can also be a gift to local business owners. The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics found that for every $100 spent at a locally-owned business, $68 stays in the community. At a national chain, only $43 stays in the […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2025 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image