Robert W. Eadie

WINSTED — Robert W. Eadie, 92, of Winsted died Oct. 8, 2011, after a short illness. Bob was born in Manhattan on Nov. 28, 1918, to the late Sarah (OBrien) and Harold Eadie and was raised in Pearl River, N.Y.At age 18, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a messenger in the Fourth Signal Company, 16th Infantry at Fort Jay, N.Y. He completed a three-year enlistment in the Army and in June of 1940 enlisted into the U.S. Navy, the service branch that would become his lifelong passion. Bob served in the aviation unit on the light cruisers USS Montpelier and on the USS Miami, which participated in the Pacific campaigns for Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa, where the ship endured nearly constant attack by kamikaze aircraft. Bob became a master aircraft mechanic and rose to the rank of aviation machinist mate first class. Bob later served in numerous air squadrons based out of Norfolk, Va., Jacksonville, Fla., with deployments on the carriers USS Wasp, Midway, Lake Champlain, Franklin Roosevelt and Wright. These deployments included service during the Korean War, where he excelled in the maintenance of the F4U Corsair and the F2H Banshee planes.  During a deployment with fighter squadron VF-42, Bob served as the plane captain for Alan Shepard Jr., who went on to become one of the original Mercury astronauts and who later landed on the moon in 1971 as commander of Apollo 14. They were friends who remained in contact until Shepard’s death in 1998. Bob’s final Navy achievement came in 1955-56 when he served in Antarctica as a member of Task Force 43. For his efforts, Bob received a commendation from the secretary of the navy and the award of Royal Order of the Deepfreeze. Bob completed 20 years of military service and retired from the Navy in March of 1958. Retirement did not last long. Bob settled in Rhode Island and briefly worked at the Electric Boat Shipyard. He later moved to South Glastonbury to take a position with the Hamilton Standard division of UTC, where he was a key technician in the development, installation and maintenance of fuel and environmental systems for both propeller-driven and jet-powered planes. Bob moved to Winsted in 1977 and shortly thereafter completed his second 20-year career with UTC.  Never one to slow down, Bob accepted a position as the crossing guard at the Hinsdale Elementary school, where for 22 years he safeguarded and guided several generations of young school children and their parents. Bob was active within the Winsted community and served for 24 years as a member of the Winsted Soldiers’ Monument Commission. In April of 2011, Bob was honored by a formal proclamation from the town, recognizing him as “an outstanding citizen and friend deserving the gratitude and appreciation of all citizens of the community.” Bob was a Master Mason with a 68-year affiliation with the Naurashank Lodge in Pearl River. He also was a Noble with the Manchester Shriners and was particularly proud of the organization’s childrens hospitals and burn centers. Bob was a Life Member of the American Legion Tuttle-Burns Post 43 as well as a Life Member of VFW Post 296 (Seicheprey Post).Bob was a member of the Second Congregational Church in Winsted and also attended the Faith Bible Church in Winsted.An avid sportsman, Bob was a fleet champion boxer while serving in the Navy as well as an excellent golfer and bowler. He was a passionate fan of the New York Yankees as well as the New York Giants (for whom his father had played). Bob was an extraordinary man who lived life to the fullest. He will be remembered for his zest for life, his humor, his kindness and charity to others. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and the Winsted community. He is survived by his step-daughter, Linda Hinds of Salisbury, Md.; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two nieces, LindaJeanne Grace and Joanne Gura of Wallkill, N.Y.; a nephew, James Raymond Partridge of Plano, Texas; and numerous extended family members. He also will be fondly remembered by his close friend, Jennifer Saylor of Chicago, Ill. Bob was predeceased by his beloved sister, Jeanne and her husband, Raymond Partridge.Calling hours will be held at Montano-Shea Funeral Home, Winsted, on Sunday, Oct. 16, starting at 1 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. Burial, with full military honors, will be at the Forest View Cemetery in Winsted on Monday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m. Visit an online guestbook at Montano-shea.com.

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