Robert G. 'Skip' Skinner

Robert G. "Skip" Skinner, on Beaver Lake in Rogers, slipped the surly bonds of earth early Monday morning Dec. 23, 2013, to begin a new adventure. Skip was born in 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Garnett and Rose Skinner. At the time of his birth, the nurses at the hospital dubbed him "Skippy Skinner" after a current comic strip called "Skippy" about a very energetic fifth-grader; a name which proved to be very fitting. Much of Skip's young life was spent on the shores of Lake Michigan in the suburbs of Chicago where he learned to love life on and around the water. By age 11 he was buying and selling, sailing and motoring all types of boats, and while in the Navy, he was both a submariner and a naval aviator. Later in life, he and his wife Susan moved to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where they were recreational blue-water sailors for many years, and finally in 1996, he and Susan, their dogs and parrot moved to their home on the shores of Beaver Lake. As much as he loved the water for recreation, Skip was an innovator and a businessman extraordinaire; he was a patented inventor, an amazing salesman and the kind of marketer who could take a failing company and turn it into a huge success. He once even owned a tourist attraction in Kentucky that earned him an honorary Commission as "Kentucky Colonel" which is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor and Secretary of State in recognition of achieving the highest individual moral standards and for outstanding service to the community, state or nation. Most recently, he and Susan owned and operated a mail order chemical-free, salt-free water treatment company to solve folks' water problems from Maine to Hawaii. On a huge scale, Skip took several companies public in the 1980s, manufactured fiberglass boats and buildings, self-underwrote stock offerings and his last public company employed 350 people and had 15,000 shareholders. During his lifetime he worked with thousands of people including many well-knowns such as Chuck Conners (the "Rifleman"), Lauren Bacall, Colonel Sanders, Mickey Rooney, Ernest Borgnine and even the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas. Most of all, Skip was as humble, kind and generous as he was brilliant and charming. He was a joyous man who loved life and all creatures great and small, and he lived every minute of it to the fullest -- he touched the lives of everyone he met with his big smile and positive personality. The world is a better place because of Skip Skinner and he will be missed by so many. Skip leaves behind his beloved wife and best friend of 26 years, Susan; his beloved Leonberger "boys" Leo and Barney; his dearest friend and buddy, Ellis Wyre; a close nephew and friend, Tom Moore in Florida; a daughter, Dawn, in Missouri; a son, Chip, in Florida; six grandchildren and friends around the world. Private services will be held to celebrate his life. Anyone wishing to honor him is asked to make a donation in his name to Horses for Healing, 14673 Daniels Rd., Bentonville, AR 72712. Arrangements have been entrusted to Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services of Rogers. Words of comfort and memories may be shared at stockdalefuneral.com.