William Robert “Bob” Cooley, 85, of Lake Wales, Fla., passed away Saturday, June 7, 2008, at the home of his granddaughter, Sharon Smulin, in Winter Haven, Florida.

Bob was born February 7, 1923, in Oberlin. He graduated from Elyria High School in 1941. He moved to Lake Wales, Fla., from Vermilion 20 years ago.

He served in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. He retired as a toolmaker from General Motors in Sandusky. He belonged to the United Auto Workers Union and the First Assembly of God Church in Lake Wales. He volunteered at the Lake Wales hospital serving more than 3,000 hours. Bob’s hobbies included photography, coin collecting, and growing orchids and cacti.

He is survived by daughters, Kristine Ward of Amherst, and Barbara Sterling of Lorain; son, William D. Cooley of Mitchell, Va.; sister, Dorothy (husband James) McAfee of Elyria; seven grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Harold and Leona (nee Summers) Cooley.

The funeral was held June 16, 2008, in the First Assembly of God Church, Lake Wales. He was buried in the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla., following the service.

 

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