Robert "Bob" Mueller.
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STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo.—Robert “Bob” Mueller, founder of Mueller Optical Company in St. Louis, Missouri, died here Dec. 1. He was 83 years old.

Mueller founded Mueller Optical Company, an independent wholesale laboratory, in 1978. In November, 1999, it was acquired by ORI (Optical Resources Group Inc.), which was sold to Hoya Vision Care the following year.

Mueller was also the first president of The Optical Laboratories Association, and a founding member of the OLA Optical Pioneers Hall of Fame.

He was the husband of the late Laverne Mueller. Survivors include a son, Eric Mueller, a daughter-in-law Lisa Mueller, a daughter, Lesa Klein and son-in-law Carl Klein, and grandchildren Kevin, Max, Weston and Mia Klein. He is predeceased by his wife, Laverne Mueller and son, Kurt Mueller.

Both Eric Mueller and Carl Klein are currently employed by Hoya Vision Care of North America and are carrying on the optical wholesale tradition with Hoya Vision Care at the company’s St. Louis facility. Lesa Klein, OD, also continues the family tradition as a professor at the University of Missouri, St. Louis School of Optometry.