OXFORD – Robert (Bob) M. McRell, 66, of Port Charlotte, FL, formerly of Oxford and Clinton, passed away Wednesday, September 5 at Sarasota Memorial Hospital after a heroic fight against cancer.
He leaves behind his wife of 37 years, Carole (Curry) McRell; 3 children, Colleen and her husband Michael Charpentier of Doylestown, PA, Robert and his fiancé Hilary Otto of Port Charlotte, FL, and Maureen and her husband Brian Terhaar of Lyndonville, VT; a granddaughter, Kadence McRell of Port Charlotte, FL; a sister, Kathy and her husband Brian Janda of Clinton; a brother, Michael and his wife Jodi McRell of Ayer; mother-in-law, Dorothy “Pat” Curry of Oxford; sister and brother in-laws, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was born in Fitchburg and raised in Clinton, the son of Robert and Rita (Brodeur) McRell. He graduated from Clinton High School in 1970. He resided in Oxford for 30 years before moving to Florida in May of this year.
Bob was a member of the United States Coast Guard from 1971-1975, and a proud Vietnam Veteran. He was a supportive friend of Bill Wilson for 39 years. He worked at AstraZeneca for 30 years as a solution prep technician, retiring in 2008. He enjoyed many camping trips up and down the East Coast, assisting at the Greenhouse Car Wash in Oxford, and going to concerts with his wife. He was an avid collector of nautical décor, marbles, and matchbox cars. He was a fantastic woodworker, and is well known for his Adirondack chairs and birdhouses.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 15, at 10:00am in the chapel at the Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School St., Webster. Burial with military honors, will be at Saint Anthony’s Cemetery, Webster, with the majority of his ashes being spread out to sea at Ocracoke Island, NC. Calling hours will be held Friday, September 14th from 5:00-8:00pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made out to either Here Today Adopted Tomorrow Animal Sanctuary, 180 Sturbridge Road, PO Box 557, Brimfield, MA 01010-0557 or to The Community Cat Connection 289 Thompson Rd Webster, MA.