Robert “Bob” Stonehocker

MADISON – Robert “Bob” Stonehocker, 74, passed away while surrounded by his family on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022 in the Special Care Unit at RFGH of Skowhegan.

Bob enlisted in the Navy in 1969. After boot camp in San Diego, Calif. he went to the Naval Hospital Corpsman School, San Diego. Upon graduation, he was ordered to the Naval Hospital at Annapolis, Md. A few months later, he met Leslie Pillsbury who had recently completed the Naval Hospital Corpsman School in Chicago and was reporting to Annapolis. They were married May 7, 1971. His medical education continued with Medical Lab Technician School at Bethesda, Md. He was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, SC where Leslie followed a month after him and she was discharged from the Navy in the spring and James was born in October, of 1972; he served on the USS Trenton LPD 14, Norfolk, Va. where Karen was born in January of 1975; he attended the Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman School in Portsmouth, Va,; reported for pre-commissioning duty on the USS Carl Vinson CVN 70 in Newport News, Va.; USS Glover FF 1098 in Norfolk, VA; Naval Branch Clinic Northwest in Chesapeake, Va.; and finally the USS Iowa BB-61 in Norfolk, Va. He retired in January of 1990 as a Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman after 21 years of service. After joining his family, who had moved to Maine in the summer of 1989, he worked at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington as the night Lab Technician and retired from there as the Blood Bank Supervisor.

Since retiring from the Navy, Bob and Leslie have watched with love and pride as their children grew from teenagers to successful adults. James graduated from school, joined the Army and is working at the Togus Veterans Medical Center where he met and married Wanda and live in Winslow along with her daughter Heather and granddaughter Alicia. Karen graduated from school, became involved in many, many of the activities at the Skowhegan Federated Church and became the very, very independent woman she is today living in Skowhegan. Some of the happiest times for Bob over the years, was being able to be around for important family events – holidays, graduations, weddings, growing families, school sports, a first driver’s license and many birthdays – instead of just reading about them in letters.

Bob loved traveling with Leslie on day trips to new places in Maine and a particularly memorable trip to Washington, DC that included going back to Annapolis, Md. where they met. He enjoyed going on lunch and movie dates with Leslie, a good football game, John Wayne movies, wood working, learning to make stained glass projects, doing many, many Sudoku puzzles, cook outs with the Pillsbury Clan or over with Jim and Wanda’s family. He also enjoyed breakfasts out with Karen after she helped him with some projects around the house and yard.

But, most of all, he loved being called Husband, Dad, Uncle Bob, and Grampa Bob.

He attended the Skowhegan Federated Church with his family and was a member of the Peter Shortier Post 16 American Legion of Skowhegan.

He is survived by his wife, Leslie and their children, Karen, James and daughter-in-law, Wanda. He was born in Eastlake, Colo. to Earl and Marie Stonehocker (both deceased). They also had two daughters, Kathleen and Mariann. Sadly Kathleen has passed away and also, Mariann’s husband Chuck Lent. Mariann still resides in Durango, Colo. He is survived by his mother-in-law, Dorothy Pillsbury and the extended Pillsbury family.

A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Skowhegan Federated Church with the Rev. Mark Tanner officiating.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.SmartandEdwardsFH.com for the Stonehocker family.

Arrangements under the care and direction of Smart and Edwards Funeral Home 183 MAdison Ave. Skowhegan.