Robert B. Allison Sr.

Robert Bruce Allison Sr. of West Chester, formerly of Cheltenham and Beach Haven, N.J. Robert B. Allison, Sr., passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2011. He was born in Philadelphia in 1917 to the late Alexander and Annabella Dornan Allison of Scotland. He was raised in Philadelphia and graduated from Olney High School, where he excelled in sports. He played for the Crescent Arrows, winning the Philadelphia Phillies' "Knot Hole" Championship in 1934 and 1935. He also played soccer in the PA league for the German Hungarian Sport Club. After graduating from Spring Garden Institute, Bob joined IBM in 1940. He then served in the USMC as Sergeant in the Fleet Marine Force at Pearl Harbor from 1943 to 1946. After the war, he resumed his career with IBM for 35 years. He was a field engineering branch manager in Philadelphia, Roanoke, Va., Wilmington, Del., Princeton, N.J. and Valley Forge. Bob was an executive on loan from IBM, working with OIC and Rev. Leon Sullivan in the sixties, developing computer and personnel training programs throughout the Phila. area. Bob spent many years involved with Boy Scouts of America and Big Brother Assoc., mentoring many young people along the way. He then spent 10 years as a realtor and a licensed PA auctioneer in the Cheltenham area, after which he retired to the family home in Beach Haven, N.J. He was a Mason with the Melita Lodge #295 F&AM Philadelphia for 61 years. Mr. Allison was a retired Elder of the Presbyterian Church USA, very involved with church activities wherever he lived, most recently of the First Presbyterian Church of West Chester. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 40 years, Mary Catherine Marlin and is survived by their children, Robert B. Allison, Jr. (Judy) of Elkins Park, Susan Allison Medford (TC) of West Chester and Leslie Jean Allison of West Chester, as well as his two grandsons, Robert B. Allison, III (Terry) of Germany and great-granddaughter Zoey Taylor Allison and Andrew Gordon Allison, Sr. (Amanda) of Glassboro, N.J. and great-grandson, Andrew Gordon Allison, Jr. Virginia Jones of West Chester was his loving companion until he passed away. He was also preceded in death by his second wife of 24 years, Jessie Glasser Allision. Bob is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews. He loved his family and his faith. All who knew and loved him, especially his children, will miss him. Robert Allison lived a wonderful life. Interment is private.