Obituary for Robert E. "Googie / Bobby G" Gentile Sr.
WESTERLY – Robert (Googie/Bobby G) E. Gentile Sr., 86, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 22, 2022, at RI Hospital surrounded by his beloved family.
Robert was born to Robert C. & Marion Gentile. He enlisted & served honorably in the US Airforce as a jet engine mechanic from 1953 - 1957. Bob was stationed at Barksdale Airbase in Louisiana where he met & married his loving wife “My Bride for 67 years”, Mary Ann (Pizzolato) Gentile. Robert and Mary Ann returned to Westerly in 1958 where they settled & raised six children and where he began his long career at General Dynamics in Groton retiring from his position as ship superintendent after 34 years in 1991.
He loved to golf and did so for over 50 years! He was a long-time member of the Winnapaug Country Club where this veteran golfer made his first hole-in-one acing the 179-yard, 16th hole using a five-wood. Bob was a talented woodworker & craftsman who built with much pride his home on Old Hopkinton Road. He loved to tinker in his woodworking shop at his home where he crafted many custom pieces of furniture & cabinetry. Among his most enjoyable & proud pieces were the crafted doll cradles & personally engraved step stools for each of his grandchildren. Bob’s greatest passion & love by far was for his family. He always had wonderful life stories to share with his family & friends that would always put a smile on your face & in your heart.
Googie is survived by his sister, Ginny Fyfe, of Westerly and brother, Frank Gentile, of Stonington. Besides Bob’s beloved wife he will be sadly missed by his six loving children & their spouses: Sharon & her husband the late Joseph Vargas of Stonington, Michael & his wife Susan Gentile of Westerly, Diana & her husband Brian Pringer of Westerly, Robert E Gentile II of Westerly, Joseph Gentile of Ledyard CT, & Marc Gentile of Charlestown. Bob will be remembered most lovingly by his twenty grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and another great-grandchild any day.
Robert’s family will receive relatives & friends Wednesday, 10/26th from 4 – 7pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St. Westerly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, 10/27th 12:30pm at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St. Westerly. There is no procession from the funeral home to church. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly. In lieu of flowers the family will be grateful for donations in memory of Robert E. Gentile to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation to help in the organization’s mission in assisting individuals & families touched by breast cancer. Donations can be sent to 249 Roosevelt Ave., Suite 201, Pawtucket, RI 02860 or go to www.gloriagemma.org
For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com
Robert was born to Robert C. & Marion Gentile. He enlisted & served honorably in the US Airforce as a jet engine mechanic from 1953 - 1957. Bob was stationed at Barksdale Airbase in Louisiana where he met & married his loving wife “My Bride for 67 years”, Mary Ann (Pizzolato) Gentile. Robert and Mary Ann returned to Westerly in 1958 where they settled & raised six children and where he began his long career at General Dynamics in Groton retiring from his position as ship superintendent after 34 years in 1991.
He loved to golf and did so for over 50 years! He was a long-time member of the Winnapaug Country Club where this veteran golfer made his first hole-in-one acing the 179-yard, 16th hole using a five-wood. Bob was a talented woodworker & craftsman who built with much pride his home on Old Hopkinton Road. He loved to tinker in his woodworking shop at his home where he crafted many custom pieces of furniture & cabinetry. Among his most enjoyable & proud pieces were the crafted doll cradles & personally engraved step stools for each of his grandchildren. Bob’s greatest passion & love by far was for his family. He always had wonderful life stories to share with his family & friends that would always put a smile on your face & in your heart.
Googie is survived by his sister, Ginny Fyfe, of Westerly and brother, Frank Gentile, of Stonington. Besides Bob’s beloved wife he will be sadly missed by his six loving children & their spouses: Sharon & her husband the late Joseph Vargas of Stonington, Michael & his wife Susan Gentile of Westerly, Diana & her husband Brian Pringer of Westerly, Robert E Gentile II of Westerly, Joseph Gentile of Ledyard CT, & Marc Gentile of Charlestown. Bob will be remembered most lovingly by his twenty grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and another great-grandchild any day.
Robert’s family will receive relatives & friends Wednesday, 10/26th from 4 – 7pm at Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St. Westerly. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, 10/27th 12:30pm at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St. Westerly. There is no procession from the funeral home to church. Burial will follow at St. Sebastian Cemetery, Westerly. In lieu of flowers the family will be grateful for donations in memory of Robert E. Gentile to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation to help in the organization’s mission in assisting individuals & families touched by breast cancer. Donations can be sent to 249 Roosevelt Ave., Suite 201, Pawtucket, RI 02860 or go to www.gloriagemma.org
For online condolences please visit www.gaffneydolanfuneralhome.com