Robert William Pellerin Sr.

WATERVILLE – Robert William Pellerin Sr., 91, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 20, 2023 at Thayer Hospital with family and friends by his side.

Robert or “Bob”, to all who knew him, was born in Waterville on Dec. 20, 1931, the first child to Alec Joseph and Grace Ella (Lacombe) Pellerin.

He graduated Waterville Senior High School in 1949, worked at Scott Paper until he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force when the U.S. entered the Korean War. Shortly thereafter Bob received a hardship discharge and returned home to help the family when his father became seriously ill.

Bob met Geraldine Boisvert in 1953, a lovely courtship ensued, and they married on July 3, 1954. Bob went to work for Gerry’s father, Bill Boisvert, who was a prominent local businessman, driving one of Bill’s Oil Service fuel oil trucks delivering home heating oil. While working long hours, Bob also attended Thomas College where he earned his business degree. Performing just about every job at Bill’s Oil, Bob worked his way up to General Manager, holding this position for many years until the business was sold in 1991, ushering Bob into leisurely life of a retiree.

Bob and Gerry created a wonderful family consisting of four boys and provided a loving environment for them at their home in Waterville and during the summers at their camp on Great Pond. Family vacations included many trips to Florida and traveling out west in their motorhome. Bob also enjoyed skiing, snowmobiling, tennis, hunting and golf.

In their retirement years, Bob and Gerry maintained a home in Zephyrhills, Fla. where they would spend their winters, enjoying the warm weather golfing and playing shuffleboard. The family grew up Catholic and would attend Sacred Heart Church regularly.

Bob had a lifelong love of aviation, this started when, as a young boy he would watch the USAAF planes entering the landing pattern for a stopover in Waterville on their way to Europe during World War II. He would frequently hop on his bicycle and ride from his home on Edgemont Ave all the way to the airport to watch them come and go. Bob took flying lessons in the early 1970s and became a private pilot owning two airplanes along the way. He was also an avid reader of non-fiction books and a history buff, especially with regards to World War II airplanes and ships, had remarkable knowledge on those subjects and many others.

He had many lifelong friends, and it was unusual to for him go anywhere in town without someone saying, “Hello Bob, how are you?”

He was predeceased by his loving wife, Gerry in 2014; and only sibling, his brother, Gene Pellerin in 2020.

Bob is survived by his sons Robert William Jr. and wife Julie of Sidney, Michael James and wife Claudia of Winslow, Jeffrey Lee and wife Kathie of Scarborough and Brian Scott and wife Amanda of Midlothian, Texas; nine grandchildren, Tiffany, Kristen, Danielle, Marc, Jamie, Jacob, Alec, Sydney and Noah; as well as 10 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of Dan and Scotts Funeral Home, 445 Waterville Rd., Skowhegan, ME 04976.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to your favorite charity.