Robert Wilcox Connell, Jr

Robert Wilcox Connell, age 91, formerly of Lilesville, NC and Hillsdale, NY passed away from natural cause on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at the NC State Veterans Home.

Mr. Connell was born July 26, 1923 in Schenectady, NY the son of the late Ora Belle Wilcox Connell and Amos Clarendon Connell. Bob was a Veteran of the US Marine Corps serving in the South Pacific and occupied Japan during WWII. Upon returning after the war he completed his education in Animal Husbandry at Michigan State earning a Bachelor's degree from Michigan State in Animal Husbandry.While a student at Michigan State he was very active while at college and played football for the Michigan State Wolverines. After graduation he took his first job as a farm manager for Armand Hammer raising purebred Black Angus cattle a career he pursued with many successes for 62 years.

On June 10, 1950 he married Rosemary Ann Brock of Kansas City, Missouri who preceded him in death on May 10, 1992. He and Rosemary raised seven children together and Bob was lucky to get to know his seven grandchildren and three of his seven great-great grandchildren.

He was active his entire life personally managing his 2 farms in Wadesboro and Lilesville until he became incapacitated in June of 2011. He was a diehard Yankees fan, and also followed the NY Jets, he loved debating politics with his children and friends and in later life he loved music and playing Bingo at the VA home where he was everyone's friend. Bob was a communicant of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Wadesboro and Our Lady of Hope in Copake Falls; he was a member of VFW in Copake, NY.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children Elizabeth Connell of Salisbury, NC, Kathleen Connell of LaVerne, CA, Patricia Connell of Salisbury, NC, Colleen Simo and her husband Raymond of S. Egremont, MA, Rosemary McCullough and her husband, Carl of Waterloo, NY, Robert Wilcox Connell, Jr. of Albany, NY, and Timothy Connell of Dalton, GA. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jessica Simo and her husband, Mark Sochaski, Vanessa Simo and her husband Shawn Dennis, , Brittany Davrichvili-Simo and her husband, Vato Davrichachvili,Anthony Connell, Rosie Connell, Shannon McCullough, Casey McCullough; great-grandchildren Jacob and Mae Sochaski, Olivia and Yohan Davrichachvili, and Liam Simo, Oliver and Harrison Dennis.

Friends and family are invited and may call on Thursday, July 16, 2015 from 4 to 7 PM at Peck and Peck Funeral Home 8063 Rte. 22 Copake, NY.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Friday, July 17, 2015 at Our Lady of Hope Parish, with Rev. George Brennan officiating.

Burial will follow in St. Bridget's Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Memorials contributions are requested to the Activity Department at the North Carolina State Veterans' Home in Salisbury NC.

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