Robert "Bob" F. Irwin

He was born in Bristol, Conn., April 19, 1933, the son of John and Rhea (Brault) Irwin.

He graduated from Bristol High School where he set numerous state and local records as a member of the school’s swim team.

He later resided in Troy, NY where he earned a bachelor degree in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy. He moved to Keene in 1956.

Early in Bob’s work career, he worked with MPB Corporation in Keene to develop their new Chem.-Metalurgy Research Lab. He was later promoted to production manager for special bearings. He then took a position as plant manager for the former Minnewawa Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of woven labels and trimmings for the garment industry, in Marlborough, NH. He purchased the business in 1969 and later sold the company in 1983. In 1984, Bob joined Coughlin Realty in Keene and also Paquette Appraisal of Keene, where he worked as a real estate appraiser, eventually acquiring the business with his wife, Ardis. They sold the business in 2011 to enjoy retirement.

Bob was active in sports. While working at MPB, he played in the Greater Keene Area Mens Softball League. He was a coach in the first year of the Keene Pee Wee Baseball League, coached little league baseball, and was the first president of the Keene Senior Babe Ruth League. He was an avid skier and a member of National Ski Patrol and the Keene Gopher Patrol covering the Timberidge and Roundtop Ski areas in Vermont, for many years. He also enjoyed photography and cooking. As a young child, he was an avid Notre Dame football fan, listening to the games on the radio. He continued to follow the team and was able to full-fill his life-long dream of attending a Notre Dame football game on their home field. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Keene Country Club for 20 years. He also was an avid Patriots, Red Sox and NASCAR fan. He had a special love for Mt. Rainier in Washington.

Mr. Irwin was active in community affairs, serving on the Keene Zoning Board for four years, with two as chairman, and also the Keene Planning Board for four years once again two of those as chairperson. He was also a member of the Keene Lions Club.

Survivors include his wife, Ardis Trombly of Keene, his children; Craig Irwin and his wife, Diane, Glenn Irwin and his wife, Linda, all of Beaverton, Oregon, David Irwin and his wife, Asa, of Kirkland, Washington, Susan Davis and her husband, Mark, of Lynnwood, Washington, grandchildren; Jonathan Irwin and his wife, Megan, Katie (Irwin) Cooper and her husband, Andrew, Maggie Irwin, Emily Irwin, Chad Davis, Shane Davis, Miles Irwin, his wife Ardis’ children; Edward Trombly and his wife, Sheryl, David Trombly, Mark Trombly and his wife, Bozena, all of Keene, and grandchildren; Zachary Trombly, Christine Trombly and Megan Trombly. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law; Patricia Parkinson and her husband, Don, of Tucson, AZ, Ciona Whitcomb and her husband, Robert, of Keene, Valieda Henderson and her husband, Gary, of Garland, TX, Cheryl Sawyer of Dallas, TX, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Kay (Burnham) Irwin.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 10:00 AM in St. Margaret Mary Church, 33 Arch Street, Keene, NH. Burial will follow in the Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Avenue, Keene. Family and friends are welcome. There will be no public calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mr. Irwin’s memory to the American Heart Association Northeast Affiliate, Two Wall Street, Manchester, NH 03101, or to the American Liver Foundation, New England Chapter, 88 Winchester Street, Newton, MA 02461.

The Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH is in charge of the arrangements.