Robert Brucklacher

Robert Wendell Brucklacher, 83, of 121 Porter Road, Statesville, died Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010, at his home. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on Jan. 23, 1927, and was a son of the late John and Mae Wendell Brucklacher. Bob's family moved from Queens, N.Y. to Highland, N.Y., where he received his public school education. U.S. Army service toward the end of World War II took him to Manila in the Philippines. He married the former Juanita Taylor in 1947, in Washington, D.C. and she survives. Bob was a public school teacher and administrator for many years after earning his degrees. He earned his B.S. at N.Y. State University and his M.A. from N.Y University. He was a member of the Statesville Radio Control Flyers Association and the Iredell County Amateur Radio Society. As an accomplished musician he played clarinet and saxophone with many small bands in Ulster, Dutchess and Orange Counties in New York State, later finding his musical "spot" in Statesville. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Roberta Brucklacher and a grandaughter, Morgan Hook both of Statesville; a sister, Grace Ryerson and her husband, Charles of Pougkeepsie, N.Y.; along with four nieces and one nephew. Services celebrating Bob's life will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the Westmoreland Chapel of Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home with the Rev. Dale Strange officiating. The family will recieve friends immediately following the service. Burial will follow later in New Paltz, N.Y. Condolences may be sent on line to the family to www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the charity of the donor's choice. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.