Student musicians will benefit greatly from the generosity of the Archbold family, who earlier this year established the Robert “Bob” Archbold Memorial Fund and Scholarship for Fenton High School.

 The family, the Fenton Education Foundation (FEF) and Fenton High School band have created a $50,000 multi-year fund that will enable the Fenton band, under the direction of Andrew Perkins, to provide an annual scholarship, contribute to the marching band’s uniform efforts and help provide funding for individual band members and events.

 This memorial fund was created to remember Bob Archbold, Fenton High School Class of 1985, who passed away from heart-related complications in 2015. He was only 48 years old.

 “Bob absolutely loved the band and music his entire life,” said his brother, Roger Archbold, senior strategic alliance manager for Microsoft. ”We miss Bob and hope that this fund will help out students who share Bob’s passion and love for music.”

 Pat Lockwood, of the FEF Board of Directors said, “The Fenton Education Foundation is grateful to Roger Archbold and Microsoft for this generous donation to benefit Fenton’s Band Program.

 “Over the next 10 years, students will have the opportunity to continue their musical education through this scholarship and additional contribution to the overall needs of this successful program,” said Lockwood. “Our sincere thank you to the Archbold family, who acknowledge the importance of music in the overall growth of our students.”

 Perkins said, “Roger and the Archbold family have been incredibly generous to the FHS Band Program. I was overwhelmed with the way they are choosing to honor their brother by supporting the program that was so important to Bob.

 “Our purpose in the band program is to create positive life-changing experiences for the students, and Roger and the family really seemed to embrace that vision,” Perkins added. “Their donations and support help in a tremendous way, and we’re honored that they are choosing to remember their brother in this way.”

Who was Bob Archbold?

 The Archbold family moved to Fenton in 1964.

 “My father got a production job at the recently opened General Motors (GM) Truck and Bus plant on Bristol Road,” said Bob’s brother, Roger. “At that time there were five children — Joleen, Mona, Kendra, Richard and myself. Bob and (twin sister) Barb would not join the family until 1966.

 “Initially we moved into a house two doors down from (Tomek) Eastern Elementary; then we moved to Fifth Street and finally to South Holly Road where we spent most of our lives.

 “Dad worked production so money was short back in those days at GM … my dad would be laid off for a couple of months in the summer.”

 The Archbold parents always made ends meet, but it was a struggle for them raising a large family on a limited income, said Roger.

 “Bob often would look back on his childhood growing up in a small community like Fenton, and what it was like being a part of a large family,” said his sister, Mona (Archbold) Knapp.

 Roger said, “In retrospect growing up in Fenton during those days was almost idyllic — but you did not realize it at the time. Bikes were the main mode of transportation, newspapers or WJR (radio) were the way you received your information and a long distance call was important.”

 Mona said, “Bob’s first ‘real’ job was at the Southside (Johnny Greer’s) grocery store in Dibbleville.

 “Our parents taught us all to not take money but do things out of the goodness of your heart,” she said. “That was something Bob did throughout his life, helped others out of the goodness of his heart.

 “Everyone in the neighborhood looked out for each other,” said Mona.

 Mona said her brother enjoyed being with people of all ages, but had a big soft heart for kids. Throughout his life, Bob was encouraging kids to be the best they could be. 

 Music was always playing in the Archbold house, either on the radio or on the record player. Doing plays and practicing their acting skills was another activity, according to Mona.

 “Bob liked that one. He could be a bit of a ham,” she added.

 “Growing up as a family we were pretty close,” said Roger. “There was a large field behind our house so we would play family ball games, go fishing in the millpond, and in the winter we would ice skate on the pond or go sledding in the hills across the street.

 “Bob was an active kid and always seemed to be in some sort of harmless trouble. Mom would get calls from the neighbors asking if Bob had been outside playing, because they came home and found the hose was running and had flooded their yard, or the flowers had been pulled out — or weeded as Bob would claim.”

 Roger said Bob’s fourth-grade teacher got him involved in music and drums.

 “Bob played all the way through high school and played in the Jazz ensemble at Central Michigan University. As he got older and his health began to deteriorate he would still pick up pencils and drum on the table or counter top.

 In offering condolences upon learning of his passing, one post stood out that clearly described Bob, said Mona. “In life you run across a few people that you’re glad you met, you were honored for them to take time for your own struggles, it made you better that your paths crossed, and in passing, they left all that with you forever.”