Robert James O'Hare
Robert James O'Hare, 89, a longtime Rocky Grove, Venango County, resident, left his earthly home Tuesday at the Caring Place in Franklin.
A son of James Cornelius and Ethel Rankin O'Hare, he was born in Oil City on July 31, 1923.
He grew up in Oil City during the Great Depression and for a time lived with several of his aunts, uncles and cousins. While living in Oil City, his only sibling, William, was struck by a car while riding his bicycle and was killed at the age of 10.
He was a 1942 graduate of Rocky Grove High School.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During World War II he was stationed at Pearl Harbor.
On Dec. 3, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart and enrolled at Youngstown University on the GI Bill. He received his degree in 1951. Mr. O'Hare was employed by Prudential Insurance, retiring due to health concerns. While with Prudential, he was a union representative.
He served on the Sugarcreek Borough Zoning Committee and the Venango County Democratic Committee, and was a trustee of the Christ United Methodist Church where he was a long-time member. He was a member of the Franklin Elks Lodge, the Franklin Eagles and the Rocky Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
Bob was well-known in Franklin as the man walking with the white cane. He was especially proud of his Irish heritage. He and his wife traveled to Ireland in 2004 with two of his daughters and their spouses.
He was married to the former Virginia Chapin. She died Jan. 10, 2006.
Surviving are three daughters, Roberta Lehman and her husband, Fred, of Butler, Colleen Holtz and her husband, Steve, of Franklin and Karen Harton of Bradenton, Fla.; six grandchildren, Chris Lehman and his wife, Amy, Keith Lehman and his wife, Tammy, all of Butler, Jennifer Billingsley and her husband, Kevin, of Franklin, Sherri Schultz and her husband, John, of Honesdale, Wayne County, Brett Harton and his wife, Melissa, of Catonsville, Md., and Erin Harton of Austin, Texas; nine great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Leah and Megan Billingsley, all of Franklin, Philip Lehman and Emma and Audrey Lehman, all of Butler, Charlotte and Gabriella Schultz of Honesdale and Ava Harton of Catonsville, Md.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his brother.
O'Hare — Friends of Robert James O'Hare, who passed away Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, will be received at Huff Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 312 W. Park St., Franklin, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Christ United Methodist Church, 1135 Buffalo St., Franklin, with the Rev. David Janz, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in the Franklin Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to the Oil Valley Chapter, Pennsylvania Council of the Blind or to the Christ United Methodist Church, 1135 Buffalo St., Franklin, PA 16323.Online condolences, flowers and sympathy cards may be sent to the family by visiting www.HuffFuneral.com.
