Robert H. Gelb

It is with the greatest of sadness that we announce the passing of Robert H. "Bob" Gelb in Celtic Hospice, surrounded by the love of family and friends.

Born in Wilkes-Barre to David and Reba Hoffman Gelb, Robert was a life resident of the Wyoming Valley. He graduated from Meyers High School in 1953 and served his country in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve for more than 25 years as part of the 402nd Military Police Battalion, holding various unit leadership roles and retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served as the president of the local chapter of the Army Reserve Officers Association.

He was a registered pharmacist and earned his degree from Temple University School of Pharmacy in 1957. He was the resident manager of pharmacy services at the former Wyoming Valley Hospital for many years and coordinated the consolidation of pharmacy services for NPW Hospital and was director of pharmacy services for Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for 20 years. He was later appointed to the role of Director of Eastern Region community relations and development.

After retiring from Geisinger, he was staff pharmacist and customer relations manager at Harrold's Pharmacy, Wilkes-Barre. In addition, he taught future pharmacy technicians as an adjunct professor at Allied Medical.   

He was a founding member and president of the Pennsylvania Society of Healthcare Pharmacists and served on the pharmaceutical advisory board of Eli Lilly.  

Bob was an active member of his local community, serving on many boards and committees of various organizations, including the Luzerne County Housing Authority, the United Way, Martin Popky B'nai B'rith Apartments and the Lake Wallenpaupack Cottages Association. He was also an active member of the local Jewish community, serving on the board of directors of the Wyoming Valley Jewish Community Center, Ohav Zedek and B'nai B'rith synagogues.

Bob was a lifelong tennis, golf and basketball player and was a member of the Kingston Indoor Tennis Club, the JCC 5:30 basketball club and the Heritage Oaks Golf and Country Club, Sarasota, Fla. Robert enjoyed traveling that included a trip to Israel and many trips to Europe. He particularly enjoyed camping and he and his family camped up and down the east coast of North America, finally settling down when he and Lois found their dream "lake house" on Lake Wallenpaupack where they enjoyed the serenity, fishing, boating and bird watching.

He was an avid reader and a handyman, rebuilding much of the family home after the 1972 Agnes flood with the assistance of his lifelong friend and fellow Army veteran, "Uncle" Bill Hill. Robert also enjoyed acting and was involved with the Wilkes-Barre Little Theater and JCC Drama Guild. He enjoyed the arts locally and in Sarasota, Fla.

He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Lois Boganovitz Gelb; sister, Linda Gelb Mitchell; children, Larry Gelb and his wife, Jelena; Alyssa Hilliard and her husband, Eric; and Steven and his wife, Edie; and grandchildren, Bradley, Zoran, Dusan, Ava, Jack and Jacob.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry, in 1949.

The family wishes to recognize and thank the very special people that cared for Robert during his illness, including his home health aides, the Plains Senior Care Center and Celtic Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org, or the Association for the Blind, www.wilkesbarreblind.com.

His life will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Rosenberg Funeral Chapel Inc., 348 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre, with interment following with military honors in Holche Yosher Cemetery, South Main Street, Hanover Twp.

The family will accept visitors at 540 Tioga Ave., Kingston, from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m. Friday and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Visit www.RosenbergFuneralChapel.com for information.

To honor an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, please pass a smile onto someone you know, be kind to others and live every day to the fullest.