ROBERT A. BLEY

BLEY ROBERT A. BLEY "Bob" (Age 88) Passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 13, 2014, with his family by his side. Bob was a resident of the Potomac-Rockville, MD area since 1968 and Richmond, VA since 2011. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 54 years, Dorothy M. Bley. He is survived by a daughter, Judy J. Bley, a son Matthew R. Bley; a daughter-in-law, Wendy C. Bley; four grandchildren, Kirsten M. Hammett (Jesse), Lise J. Harbom, Matthew T. Bley, Robert H. Bley, and two nieces and two nephews. He was born on April 11, 1926, in Baltimore, MD, to Raymond and Sadie Bley, where he spent the first part of his life. In 1943, at the beginning of his senior year in high school, Baltimore City College, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps Reserve. In August 1944, two months after graduating from high school, he was called into active duty. He trained to be an aerial gunner as a crew member on a B-29 bomber and was on a troop train headed to California and duty in the Pacific war theater when the WWII ended. After the War ended, he reenlisted and was sent to Japan. While in Japan, he served in the Army of Occupation as an aerial gunner on an A-26, Invader, light attack bomber. At the end of his enlistment, he returned to the U.S. and was honorably discharged in 1946. Following his discharge from the Army, Bob entered Gettysburg College, PA. In his senior year, he was selected to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. He graduated in 1950, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude. After graduation from Gettysburg, Bob entered Harvard Law School and received his J.D. in 1953. He was subsequently admitted to the practice of law in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. After practicing law in Baltimore, MD, for a number of years, he joined the Chief Counsel Office for the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C. He was assigned to the Division of Legislation and Regulation, and achieved the position of Director. He was a charter member of the federal government's Senior Executive Service when that service was established during the administration of President Carter. He retired at the end of 1987. Since 1968, Bob was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, N. Bethesda, MD, where he served on the church council and sang in the choir for many years. He also sang for many years in the chorus of the National Lutheran Home, Rockville, MD. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Rd, N. Bethesda, MD, 20852. A reception will follow at the church. Inurnment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to either Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD, 21298 or Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Rd, N. Bethesda, MD, 20852. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to either Lutheran World Relief, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD, 21298 or Trinity Lutheran Church, 11200 Old Georgetown Rd, N. Bethesda, MD, 20852.