Obituary of Robert Anthony Handley, Sr

Robert Anthony Handley, Sr., 80, of Clinton, NY, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, NY after a long illness. He was born January 31, 1932 in Utica, NY to Frank and Margaret (Byrnes) Handley. He graduated from Utica Free Academy and then served four years in the US Navy as a hospital corpsman, seeing duty during the Korean War era aboard the USS Worcester in the Mediterranean and Turkey. Bob was united in marriage with his wife Bettie J. Curtis on October 31, 1953 in Oakland, CA. He attended SUNY Morrisville on the GI Bill and obtained an AAS in Food Technology. He retired in 1994 from the NYS Office of General Services as a Health Inspector. Through the years Bob and Bettie and their family resided in Canajoharie, Clark Mills and Clinton. Bob was a past Chairman of the Kirkland Democratic Committee and also served as Councilman for the Town of Kirkland. Bob was a past member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Canajoharie Fire Department. He was a New England Patriots fan. He had two simple beliefs in life - Always have options and don't take life too seriously. He was more than a father to his sons and daughters, he was a good reliable friend. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bettie and their eight children: Robert Jr. of Vernon NY (Carol Sweet of Clinton, NY), Bruce of Albany, NY, Mary (Michael Moracco) of Syracuse NY, Michael (Alina) of Brentwood, TN, Patricia (John) Hughes of Clinton, NY, Bernadette (Rob) Hoyer of Bend, OR, Margaret "Peg" (Fred) Olson of Clinton, NY, and John (Khin) of Myanmar; and 11 grandchildren, Clare Lynn, Joseph, Joshua, Rachel, Adam, Morgan, Christopher, Ami, Stephenie, Shannon, and Janelle; and five great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Dick, John, Edward and Howard, and his sisters, Marion Looft, Beatrice Hollenbeck, and Betty McCallister. All are invited to call Thursday (today) from 4-7pm at Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Inc., 35 College St., Clinton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am Friday, January 11, 2013 at St. Mary's Church, Clinton. Burial will be in the spring at St. Mary's Cemetery. Please consider donations to COCVAC or Clinton Fire Dept.