Robert O. Corley

CORLEY, ROBERT O. Robert Ohmart Corley, 92, passed away peacefully, with his family at his side at Hope Hospice, Shell Point, in Fort Myers, Florida, on January 28, 2013. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 60 years, Lucy Chatfield Corley. Bob was born in Bristol, Connecticut, on July 10, 1920, the only son of Robert and Ruth Corley. He grew up in Hamden, CT and attended Spring Glenn Schools, later graduating from The Westminster School in Simsbury, CT. He was a member of the Yale class of '43, and at the time of his death was the class recording secretary charged with writing class notes for the alumni magazine, a task he enjoyed. While at Yale, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943. He served as a 1st Lieutenant with the 5th Marine Division in the South Pacific, miraculously surviving the battle of Iwo Jima. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Captain. Bob married Lucy Chatfield in 1950 as he began a long career with the Barnes Group of Bristol, Connecticut. His career led him around the country, and with Lucy and their four children made friends and great memories in Mattoon, Illinois, Los Alamitos, California, Centerville, Ohio, and Simsbury and Pine Orchard, CT. Together, Bob and Lucy loved family adventures, from camping in Baja, Mexico, to backpacking and skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, as well as numerous cross country drives in the family station wagon. Their love of the beach led to sailing and long summer days playing in the Pacific Ocean. During retirement, Bob and Lucy lived and enjoyed golf in Pine Orchard, Connecticut, and skied with the 70+ Ski Club. They moved to Shell Point Retirement Community in Florida, where they swam in the Gulf of Mexico, traveled the world and kept busy with volunteer and educational activities. He was a wonderful father and grandfather whose wit, integrity, and devotion to family will be missed and honored by those who love him. He is survived by his son and three daughters and their spouses: Bob and Liz Corley of Oregon City, OR, Kitty and John Kingsbury, Guilford, CT, Sylvia and Richard Brink, Hillsborough, NJ, and Adrienne and Harry Moss, West Chester, PA. He leaves 8 devoted grandchildren: Emily Corley of Portland, OR, David Corley of Kona, HI, Holly and Lydia Kingsbury of Denver, CO, Samantha, Michelle and James Moss of West Chester, PA, Scott Brink of Hillsborough, NJ and one great-grandson, Eli Moss of West Chester, PA. Bob and Lucy also leave devoted family friends, Linda and Dean Nickerson of Shell Point Village whose friendship was a blessing and a gift. A Memorial Service will be planned for the summer in Branford, CT. In lieu of flowers, please honor Bob's memory by taking a family adventure with your loved ones or by making donation to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, 121 South Saint Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314 or www.mcsf.org. Arrangements are with the Hawley Lincoln Memorial, 1315 Boston Post Rd., Guilford.