Robert L. Grace, 85
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Robert L. Grace, 85, of Willow Crossing in Mansfield passed away on Tuesday March 18, 2008 at the Caritas Norwood Hospital in Norwood from complications from a heart attack after a prolonged battle of over twenty years with Parkinson’s disease, skin and prostate cancers. He was the beloved husband of Muriel E. (Youngling) Grace to whom he was wed to on August 14, 1955.
Born in West New York, New Jersey on July 3, 1922 he was a son of the late Thomas and Mary (Kendel) Grace.
In his youth he was a versatile athlete who ran track and played basketball and baseball and was awarded a special sports medal upon graduating from St. Joseph’s High School in West New York, N.J. in 1941. After serving in WWII he played semi-pro baseball in the New Jersey Otis League where his batting set records for distance hit.
He was a Radio Man First Class in the United States Navy in WWII where he served on an LST for three years in both the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. In Navy Boot Camp he shattered the record for the obstacle course by turning in a time of one minute eighteen seconds which was sixty-four seconds faster than the prior record.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy he worked for The New York Central Railroad, Penn Central Railroad, Conrail and Amtrak as a brakeman and yard conductor in the freight and passenger yards in Weehawken, N.J. for forty-two years until retiring in July 1983.
He and Muriel resided in New Milford, N.J. and Absecon, N.J. before moving to Willow Crossing in Mansfield eight years ago. He was known throughout the Willow Crossing community for his sense of humor and outgoing personality.
In addition to his wife he is survived by his devoted sons William H. Gerber, Jr. and his wife Dorothy of Mansfield and Robert S. Gerber and his wife Diane of Galloway, N.J. He was the brother of William Grace of Charleston, South Carolina and the late Helen Reinen, Thomas Grace and Edmond Grace, also survived by his grandchildren Todd Gerber of Galloway, N.J., Dawn Kerner of Phoenixville, PA and Donald Dolan, Jr. of Stanhope, N.J., his great grandchildren Alexis Gerber and Noah Dolan as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Thursday March 20th from 3-6 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home 55 North Main St. Mansfield.
Funeral services will be held at the conclusion of visiting hours at 6:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will be held on Friday March 21st at 1:00 P.M. in the George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, Bob’s family has requested that donations in his memory be made to The American Parkinson Disease Association Massachusetts Chapter 715 Albany St. Suite C329 Boston, MA 02118, The American Cancer Society 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701 or The American Heart Association 20 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701.
For additional information please visit www.shermanjackson.com