Robert Howard Worrell

Robert Howard Worrell was born September 22, 1924 in Boston, MA, the sixth and youngest child of George Howard Worrell and Florence Grace "Flossie" Yoder Worrell. He died in Manchester, NH, on May 30, 2017.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Loraine, his four children, Judith W. Thornton of Middlebury, VT, Kathryn W. Newton (Craig) of Middlebury, Peter R. Worrell (Kareen) of New Castle, NH, and Claudia W. Allen (Joe) of Charlottesville, VA. In addition, he is survived by five grandchildren (Brent, Sarah, Luke, Olivia, and Eve), four great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. All will miss his presence greatly.
He was predeceased by his parents and five siblings.

When Bob was two, the family moved from Boston to Hanover Street in Manchester, NH, and Bob made the Manchester area his primary residence for the rest of his life. In his early years, he enjoyed baseball, practical jokes, and playing outdoor pick-up games like kick-the-can. His mother, Flossie, had been raised in an Amish community in Ohio and while Bob's family did not observe strict Amish rules, the family was influenced by Flossie's Amish values of simplicity, hard work and an aversion to waste. He fondly spoke of her personal grace and talents as a gardener and cook his whole life.

Bob attended Chandler Grammar School and Central High School, where he met Frances Loraine Tewksbury, who would become his wife and life partner. He enjoyed recalling that they met in Ancient History class and spent their courtship years dancing to big bands and taking in double features. Bob graduated from the Clark School in Hanover, NH in 1942.

Knowing that Bob would soon be called up, he and Loraine were married in December of 1942 and briefly settled in Massachusetts where Bob was employed in a naval shipyard. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 where he served in the artillery in the Rainbow Division in Europe for over three years and was awarded a bronze star. While he served willingly and loyally, Bob hated the violence and hardship of war and was irritated by those who would glorify it.

While Bob was enlisted, Loraine gave birth to their first child, Judith, in November 1943. Loraine lived with her parents, who doted on Judy, until Bob's return, when the young family set up housekeeping in Manchester. Over the next decades, Bob and Loraine had three more children, Kathryn, Peter, and Claudia.

Due to the obligations of his young family, Bob forewent the GI bill and joined his brothers Knox and Cy to work for his father at Lyon's Iron Works. He started as a draughtsman and gradually worked his way up to company president, where he remained until his retirement.

While Bob was an introvert, he was an active citizen in the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce, and he and Loraine were founding parents of The Derryfield School. First and foremost, Bob was an ever-steady husband and father, with a stoic, uncomplaining demeanor but also a love of jokes and play. He enjoyed weekends at a lake house in Meredith, NH, teaching his children to ski in the White Mountains, and hosting Manchester friends including the Clossons, Quimbys and O'Connors.

In their empty nest years, Bob and Loraine moved to Hopkinton, NH, then Hooksett, NH and finally to Birch Hill Terrace back in Manchester. They also relished time at a summer house in Round Pond, Maine.

Bob was a lifelong learner and during retirement he taught himself to raise sheep, card wool, and keep bees. He and Loraine loved traveling, most often to Arizona and Florida, but also to Australia, Asia and Europe, where Bob was particularly fond of France. And, of course, they traveled almost constantly to wherever their children were, to help move, put up wallpaper, attend milestone events, participate in hobbies, and just be present.

Bob grew to enjoy Middlebury, Portsmouth and Charlottesville and made the drives a thousand times. Bob never tried to be someone other than himself, and remained himself until the very end. Until two years ago, he and Loraine lived on their own, and at age 90 Bob was still pursuing his passion for the environment as an active member of the Hooksett Recycling Committee.

He continued to enjoy jokes and just recently was delighted to brag that he had finally gotten some of his jokes published (in the Birch Hill Terrace newsletter). He attended family events as long as he was possibly able and made it to his youngest grandchild's high school graduation in 2015.

Bob was dogged in his will to live, stoic in the face of life's challenges and always, always smitten with Loraine. We think he would say he lived a full, happy life that surpassed his expectations, and that he is at peace.

The family held a private service.

Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, Manchester assisted with arrangements.