Robert W. Eadie, age 92, of 85 Hillside Avenue, Winsted CT died Saturday October 8th after a short illness. Bob was born in Manhattan on November 28th, 1918 to the late Harold  & Sarah (OBrien) Eadie and was raised in Pearl River, New York.

At age 18, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a messenger in the Fourth Signal Company, 16th Infantry at Fort Jay New York. He completed a three year enlistment in the Army and in June of 1940, enlisted into the US Navy; the service branch that would become his life-long passion.

Bob served in the aviation unit on the light cruisers USS Montpelier and on the USS Miami which participated in the Pacific campaigns for Saipan, the Philippines and Okinawa, where the ship endured nearly constant attack by kamikaze aircraft. Bob became a master aircraft mechanic and rose to the rank of Aviation Machinist Mate First Class. Bob later served in numerous air squadrons based out of  Norfolk, VA & Jacksonville, FL with deployments on the carriers USS Wasp, Midway, Lake Champlain, Franklin Roosevelt & Wright. These deployments included service during the Korean War where he excelled in the maintenance of the F4U Corsair and the F2H Banshee planes.

During a deployment with fighter squadron VF-42, Bob served as the plane captain for Alan Shepard, Jr. who went on to become one of the original Mercury astronauts and who later landed on the moon in 1971 as commander of Apollo 14. They were friends who remained in contact until Shepard’s death in 1998.

Bob’s final Navy achievement came in 1955-1956 when he served in Antarctica as a member of Task Force 43. For his efforts, Bob received a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy and the award of Royal Order of the Deepfreeze. Bob completed 20 years of military service and retired from the Navy in March of 1958.

Retirement did not last long. Bob settled in Rhode Island and briefly worked at the Electric Boat Shipyard. He later moved to South Glastonbury to take a position with the Hamilton Standard division of UTC where he was a key technician in the development, installation & maintenance of fuel & environmental systems for both propeller driven & jet powered planes. Bob moved to Winsted in 1977 and shortly thereafter completed his second 20 year career with UTC..

Never one to slow down, Bob accepted a position as the crossing guard at the Hinsdale elementary school where for 22 years, he safeguarded & guided several generations of young school children & their parents. Bob was active within the Winsted community and served for 24 years as a member of the Winsted Soldiers’ Monument Commission. In April of 2011, Bob was honored by a formal proclamation from the town, recognizing him as “an outstanding citizen & friend deserving the gratitude and appreciation of all citizens of the community”.

Bob was a Master Mason with a 68 year affiliation with the Naurashank Lodge in Pearl River, NY. He also was a Noble with the Manchester Shriners and was particularly proud of the organization’s childrens hospitals & burn centers. Bob was a Life Member of the American Legion Tuttle-Burns Post 43 as well as a Life Member of VFW Post 296 (Seicheprey Post).

Bob was a member of the Second Congregational Church as Winsted and also attended the Faith Bible Church in Winsted.

An avid sportsman, Bob was a fleet champion boxer while serving in the Navy as well as an excellent golfer & bowler. He was a passionate fan of the New York Yankees as well as the New York Giants (for whom his father had played).

Bob was predeceased by his beloved sister Jeanne and her husband Raymond Partridge. He is survived by his step-daughter Linda Hinds of Salisbury, MD as well as by 2 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He also leaves 2 nieces, LindaJeanne Grace & Joanne Gura of Wallkill, NY, a nephew James Raymond Partridge of Plano, TX and numerous extended family members. He also will be fondly remembered by his close friend, Jennifer Saylor of Chicago, IL.

Bob was an extraordinary man who lived life to the fullest. He will be remembered for his zest for life, his humor, his kindness & charity to others. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends & the Winsted community.