Robert L. Wardrop, Sr., age 83, of Inverness, FL died July 24, 2016 while under the care of Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast, Inverness. A native of Buffalo, NY, he was born July 28, 1932 to the late John and Marguerite (Peel) Wardrop.
He moved to Inverness 31 years ago from East Brunswick, NJ. He proudly served in the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force and retired after 22 years of service. A highlight of his service in the Army was being awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Purple Heart and being interviewed for Gen. Ridgeway’s Honor Guard. While serving in the Navy, his ship, the USS Albany, CA123, was part of a Navy Log TV show. The ship was involved in a relief effort for residents of Volos, Greece after an earthquake. A member of the crew had been born and raised in the city. While serving in the Air Force, Mr. Wardrop was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service while serving in SE Asia. In 1953, he met Adele Leyendecker at a USO dance. In 1954, he made Adele his wife.
Bob attended Montana State College, Bozeman, MT and LIT, MA. He was active in all the communities he lived in as Cub Scout Master, Boy Scout Leader, a baseball coach and in youth groups at church. While residing in Inverness, Bob was elected as President of Chapter 300, AARP; 2d Vice President of the Inverness Highlands Civic Association; served in the Neighborhood Crime Watch as well as serving on the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and the Fleet Management Task Force of the county. He was very active in the First Presbyterian Church as an Elder, a Deacon and teacher of youth and adults. Mr. Wardrop also completed and received a diploma for completion of a two year course in Theology.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Adele A. (Leyendecker) Wardrop; daughters: Kathleen Thomas of Deerfield Beach, FL and Stephanie Stapinski of Lantana, FL; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchldren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Robert Wardrop, Jr., and his sisters, Nancy Flipzak and Jacqueline Sullivan.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service is planned for Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. from the First Presbyterian Church of Inverness with Reverend Ron Pfeifer officiating. The family will receive friends in visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. until the hour of service. Following the service, Bob’s urn will be laid to rest at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL where military honors will be rendered by Inverness VFW Post #4337 Honor Guard. It was Bob’s wish that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in his honor to the Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
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