Robert David Willows

Lawrence Willows on February 5, 1953. Bob passed away the morning of January 12, 2024.

At the age of 17 Bob felt the call to service, joining the United States Air Force on March 18, 1971, and honorably served his Country fulfilling his commitment and being discharged on March 16, 1975. After his discharge he served in the reserves for several more years. Having left high school prior to graduation he completed his High School education while serving in the Air Force. Upon discharge Bob joined his father Lawrence aka “Moose” as a lineman for Con Edison working out of East View, New York.

In the Mid 1980’s Bob decided he had enough with wearing any type of uniform over the many previous years and ultimately left Con Edison and chose a more unstructured path for the remainder of his time here on earth. Bob eventually reentered society and accepted a role as caretaker with Dellwood Country Club in the shadows of High Tor Mountain and embraced the role without the need for anything more then what that Country Club and the woods surrounding it provided for him. Bob somehow found a way to allow society to go on around him without an expression of opinion, neither positive nor negative on any of the current events that were happening at the time. He had the ability to master technology, read and understand history both political and cultural, but rarely shared those abilities or opinions with anyone. Bob had the unwanted ability to be endeared by nearly everyone who crossed his path. His simple presence generated the ways that provided for Bob’s choice of life and causes that he took up. He advocated for the mix of animals that coexisted with him at Dellwood, not because he actually liked them, but realizing that they were all on a common goal to simply step back and let the show go on around them. He accomplished just that, ultimately retiring several years ago.

Although Bob’s body began to fail him, his constant inquisitive mind never weakened a bit. Even from his assisted residence at Allendale Assisted Care facility he constantly oversaw and advocated for his mother’s care at her nearby assisted care facility up to her passing December of 2022.

Preceding Bob in passing are his father and mother, Lawrence and Doris, but left to appreciate Bob and his being are his sons Robert Willows and Eric Willows, Mary Medina (the mother of his children), sisters Virginia (Tom) Wolfe, Margaret (John) McSharar, brothers Lawrence ”Skip” (Linda) Willows, William “Bill” Willows, former sister-in-law Victoria Willows, Richard (Linda) Willows and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Bobs services will be at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home 321 S. Main Street, New City, N.Y. 10956 Thursday January 18, 2023 9am-11am followed with him being laid to final rest at Frederick Loescher Veterans Cemetery 220 Brick Church Road Spring Valley, Rockland County N.Y. 10977.