Robert Crosby Gilmore, of Simsbury, CT, died peacefully on Sunday, July 3, 2016. Beloved husband of Marion, loving and much-loved father of Paul and Susan, dear father-in-law to Lynne McGrath, Gordon Bell and Karen Gilmore, wonderful uncle to Pamela Cartledge and Robert Bitondi, Elisabeth and David Davis, caring grandpa to Sara, Melissa, Robert, Sam, Kate, Lindsey, Alex, Emily and James and great-grandfather to Xander. He will also be missed by his extended family, including A. J. Bedel and Suzanne Gilmore, and his many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Jane Cartledge and his dear son, Bruce Gilmore. Robert was happiest when he was with his family and we will miss him more than words could ever possibly say. Bob was born on October 17, 1925, in Bridgeport, CT and raised in Fairfield, CT, the son of the late James and Dorothy Gilmore. He attended Tufts, where he met his future wife, Marion Thomas, and Holy Cross through the Navy’s V-12 and ROTC programs during WW II. After being commissioned at the end of the war, he served in Japan, the Philippines and China. After leaving the Navy he returned to Tufts to complete his degree. Subsequently he attended the Wharton School of Business where he received an MBA in Accounting. He became a CPA and worked for a public accounting firm in Hartford. Bob married Marion on September 13, 1947, in Holyoke, MA and to the very end he would tell any and all that it was the best decision he ever made. He worked for Barnes Group in Bristol, CT, and Ann Arbor, MI, for 32 years. He was active in community service wherever they lived, including being elected a school board member in Plymouth, MI, and was President of the Congregation of the First Church of Simsbury, which he attended for 45 years. He always seemed to wind up as treasurer of every organization with which he was affiliated. He was a member of the Plymouth Rock Lodge of the Freemasons for over 50 years. He volunteered for many organizations, including VNA, Meals on Wheels, Simsbury Library, Books for the Homebound, and spent time as a volunteer at a homeless shelter in Hartford after he retired in 1988. Bob was an inveterate traveler, making numerous business trips to Europe and South America. With Marion, he took memorable trips with dear friends through the Elderhostel program with destinations both in America and throughout Europe. With his family there were many vacations to Vermont, Cape Cod and his beloved Burt Lake in Michigan. He also treasured special time spent with family in the UK, Colorado and New Jersey. While he made Simsbury his home for the last 45 years, he had very fond memories of the 12 years the family lived in Plymouth, MI, where he developed fast and long-lasting friendships. One of his proudest moments occurred relatively recently when he and Marion were honored in 2013 as Simsbury Hometown Heroes in recognition of their service to the community. Bob was a true and honorable gentleman with a wry sense of humor, a love of reading, the New York Yankees and UConn basketball teams, and attention to the news of the day. He will be missed by many. The family wants to thank especially the amazing staff of McLean for caring for Bob with incredible and unparalleled generosity, kindness, compassion and respect. They provided our family with great comfort and we will be forever grateful. A service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in memory of Robert Gilmore to McLean, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT 06070 or The First Church of Christ, 689 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury CT 06070. Please visit Bob’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com .