Mr. Robert F. "Bob" Irving, a resident of Medford for more than 70 years and beloved husband of Elizabeth M. (Symonds) passed away after a brief illness at the Beth-Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston on Monday, January 4, 2016. He was 88 years old.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he was the beloved son of the late Louise R. Irving. Bob was a WWII Navy veteran, receiving his honorable discharge from Boston on August 3, 1946. While in the Navy, Robert attained the rank of Third Class.
After being discharged from the Navy, Mr. Irving worked as a beloved milkman for HP Hood of Charlestown for many years, taking many of his daughters on his routes on holidays. Many of his customers, including Senator Edward Kennedy, were very fond of Bob. He was also employed for many years by the Beth-Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston as a Computer Operator. A jack of all trades, Mr. Irving enjoyed woodworking, gardening and auto mechanics. He built his own camp in Southern New Hampshire for his entire family to enjoy and taught his six daughters the basics of carpentry and construction. With an abundance of love, Bob always had family pets, Tiger, Jackie, Lad, Hilda, Fang and Wolf to name but a few. He loved animals and made them a part of his family. Above all, Robert was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed.
In addition to his cherished wife, Elizabeth, he was the loving father of Linda C. Irving and her husband Mike S. Gursky of Kingston, New Hampshire, Judi G. and her husband John Lovas of Kearny, New Jersey, Robin F. Irving of Medford, Nancy S. and her husband Brian E. O’Connor of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Cindy D. and her husband Chris Sasso of Medford and Sandy E. and her husband Curt T. Diettrich of Medford, cherished grandchildren; Chris Irving, Krystina Gursky, Renee Robichaud, Mike Sasso, Rebecca Lovas, Sarah Diettrich, CJ Diettrich, Alexis Sasso and Josh Diettrich, dear cousin; Beverly Savioli of Bedford and sister-in-law; Florence Symonds.
His funeral service will be celebrated in the West Medford Baptist Church, 59 Boston Avenue, Medford, on Thursday January 7, 2016, at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are most welcome to attend. Visiting hours will be held in the Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 29 Governors Avenue, Medford, on Wednesday January 6, 2016, from 4 to 8 PM. Interment will be privately held. Donations in Robert’s memory may be made to Team Red White & Blue, a veterans support organization he supported, at In Memory of Robert F. Irving or to the West Medford Baptist Church, 59 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA 02155. For additional information, please visit, www.magliozzifuneralhome.com.