Robert E. Olexo, 68, of New Lexington, Ohio, formerly of Belmont County, died Friday, February 17, 2006 at his home. He was born July 23, 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio, son of Verna Hicho Olexo and the late Robert Joseph Olexo.

Bob was retired from the office of Congressman Bob Ney. He was a retired Project Manager from the Ohio Department of Transportation. He was a former Belmont County Commissioner. He served on the Community Mental Health Board; he served on the board at the Bellaire Clinic and the Board of MRDD. He also worked for VOCA Corporation and served as the Executive Director for the Governor on the Ohio Health Care Board. He also served on many other state, county and local committees, programs and projects. He had a lifelong commitment to serving the people. His higher education included two Master?s Degrees. Bob was an ordained priest from the Reformed Catholic Church, Serving at St. Sebastian?s Catholic Community in Columbus.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Surviving are his mother, Verna Olexo of Parma, Ohio; his former wife, Sharon Thornton Olexo of Bellaire; his sons, Dr. Rob Olexo and his wife Julie of St. Clairsville, Bo Olexo of Morristown, and Rick Olexo and his wife Amy of Belmont; a brother, Gene Olexo of Parma; a sister, Patricia Petrosky of Parma; and six grandchildren, Bo Michael and Brady, Tessa and Tyler, and Garrett and Kade.

Family and Friends will be received at Toothman Funeral Home in St. Clairsville on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., where services will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Warnock Cemetery, Warnock, Ohio.