Obituary of Robert H Conway
Robert H. (Bob) Conway, 90, died March 16, 2019, while spending the winter months in St. Petersburg, Florida, with his wife Doris.
Bob was born on January 7, 1929, at 216 Bank St. in Titusville. He was the son of Henry L. and Loretta Madden Conway.
For 32 years, Bob worked for Snap Tite Inc., in Erie, and retired in 1993 as vice president and general manager of the valve division. Previously, Bob worked for Sylvania Electric, Cyclops Steel and co-owned Midtown Furniture & Appliances in Titusville.
Bob and Doris were residents of Millcreek (Erie) for 26 years. He graduated from Titusville High School in 1947 and attended night school at Pitt-Titusville. Bob was very active in the community. He was elected to the Titusville City Council in 1957. He was the past president of the Jaycees, past president of the Sylvania Employee Association, former member of the Aviation Club in Erie, and former treasurer of St. Catherine Catholic Cemetery Association. He was the “Bob” of the Bob & Andy radio talk show on WTIV radio in the mid ’50s and was the general chairman for the 1959 Centennial of Oil Parade. Bob also worked with Dave Garroway for the special live broadcast of the Titusville Centennial of Oil on NBC’s “Today Show.”
Bob was a talker. And he could talk to anyone. He also had a remarkable memory and knew so much history about his home town of Titusville. He thoroughly enjoyed hunting in his earlier years, wood working and fishing. Then he found golf. Bob shot his first hole-in-one in 2014, at the age of 85, and shot his age when he turned 90. He loved to play golf and was a member of the Elder Statesmen Golf League and the Tri-County Golf Association.
Bob is survived by his wife of 68 years, Doris Bartlett Conway, two sisters-in-law Joyce Billig and Gerry Conway; his daughters Sherry Conway (Sharon) and Sue Conway Grexa (Tom); his son Tim Conway (Julie); his grandchildren Ryan Fish (Roxanne), Tim Grexa (Kim) and Emma Conway; his great-grandchildren, Amanda, John, Andy, Katie, and Carl Grexa, Taylor Briggs and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Henry and Loretta Conway, his brother Bill Conway, and sister Mary Conway Luke, his grandson Robert (Bob) Grexa and granddaughter Mary Ann Fish.
Bob was very proud of his small-town heritage and was instrumental in the initial land procurement for Langeway Field on the south side of Titusville. He was an active member and special guest speaker for the Titusville High School yearly class reunion, which takes place in Tampa, Florida. His speeches would focus on “Yesteryear in Good Old Titusville”
His family and friends were the most important element in Bob’s life. For the past 24 years, he would celebrate his Irish heritage with his family and friends on Pass-a-Grille Beach, Florida, where he and Doris spent their winter months. It is with some comfort for his family that they were all spending time with Bob prior to his passing, which was the day before his favorite holiday, St. Patrick’s Day. So, it seems only fitting to end his obituary the way Bob would have wanted, with the Irish Prayer – “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”
A mass of Christian burial will be conducted on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at 11 AM at St. Titus Church with Fr. Walter E. Packard, pastor of St. Titus Church, officiating.
Inurnment will be at St. Catharines Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Titusville Elks Lodge #264 334 W Central Ave, Titusville, PA 16354.
Immediatley following the service, a luncheon will be held at the Timber Lake Lodge 4286 PA-8, Titusville, PA 16354.
