A service to celebrate his life will be held at a later date for Robert L. McCredie, who died peacefully on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at his home in Grantham, NH, after a long illness.

Bob was born March 24, 1927, in Albany NY, and graduated from Lenox Episcopal School in Lenox, MA, where he was captain of the football team. After serving in the U.S. Army, he entered Yale University and graduated in 1950 with degrees in history and economics.

His career began in the textile business, working for Toole, Broadhurst and Lee in London and Chicago. He then joined Warner Brothers of New York City where he managed the Lady Hathaway Shirt division. On a business trip to Buffalo, NY, he met his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth James. Shortly after, he was transferred to Nashville, TN, and they had their first daughter, Karen.

From Nashville they moved to New Jersey and had two more children, Robert Jr. and Susan.

Having an entrepreneurial spirit, he opened the largest automated car wash in New Jersey named “The Country Sudser.” After four years he sold the business and took the family to Europe for the summer. On his return he decided, in 1969, to move to Vermont where they had spent several years skiing and enjoying the New England lifestyle.

Bob was hired by RODCO Arctic Cat snowmobiles of New England as vice president. After successfully growing the business at RODCO, he left and founded “The Firebox,” a retail wood-burning stove shop and Inglewood Wholesale Stove Company in Woodstock, VT.

While at the “Firebox” he saw the potential growth for wood energy. He designed and built the Garrison Stove, an octagonal wood-burning stove. The company expanded, placing plants in Elkart, IN, Portland, OR, and Claremont, NH. In just three years, Garrison Stove Works became one of the largest wood stove manufacturers in the United States.

As a final business venture, summing up his experience in sales and marketing and the wood stove industry, Bob started the Tremont Marketing Group, a stove and fireplace equipment sales organization. He represented a number of leading manufacturers and soon became a major sales company of alternative fuel appliances in New England.

After residing for 36 years in Woodstock, he moved his family to Grantham, NH.

Bob lived his life dedicated to the Episcopal Church and his family. His honesty and integrity in business and in his personal life gained him much respect from those who knew him well.

Bob McCredie was was one of the good guys, an honest gentleman and friend.