BATH – Robert Wayne “Bob” Hull Sr., 76, of 221 Oak St., died Friday, June 4, 2010, at his home after his courageous 14-month battle with mesothelioma. He was born Dec. 13, 1933, in Washington, Pa., the son of John V. and Lula I. Tau Hull. Bob joined the Army National Guard in 1949 when he was 16. He then joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 during the Korean War and served on two aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean ending his duty at Brunswick Naval Air Station with Squadron VP 10 in 1955. He married Barbara A. Fraser, Aug. 21, 1954, at First Church of the Nazarene, Bath. Bob joined Ironworkers Local No. 3, Pittsburgh, as an apprentice in August 1956, and later transferred to Ironworkers Local No. 496, Portland, in 1961. He worked in steel construction building bridges and buildings, including Portsmouth Kittery Bridge, Westport Island Bridge, paper mills throughout Maine and he had the thrill of placing the last beam on top of the Prudential Building, Boston. He retired in 1991 after working as an Ironworker for 35 years. In Bob’s early retirement years, he was caretaker of Judge Paul McDonald’s estate in Woolwich, where he loved working in the flower and vegetable gardens. In his later retirement years he worked at L.P. Bisson’s Dairy Farm, Topsham, where he milked cows, a longtime passion that he had since childhood, and he loved watching the Boston Red Sox with Barbara. He was extremely dedicated to his family, his church and his friends. He was known to help anybody who came to him in need. He had an incredible way of making you feel special – using his humor and laughter. Bob enjoyed being surrounded by his family and supported his church family like they were his own. For years he visited Freeport Nursing Home as part of the nursing home ministry and served in church youth group organizations helping children and teens. He was truly an inspiration to all who met or knew him. He was a member of Gospel Light Fellowship, West Bath, Polar Star Lodge of Masons, Kora Temple and Eastern Star. He was also active for a number of years when his children were young in Morse High School Band Boosters, Demolay and Rainbow Girls. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Barbara A. Hull of Bath; three sons, Robert Hull Jr. and his wife, Pam, of Alna, Stuart Hull and his wife, Donna, of Litchfield, and David Webster and his wife, Susan, of Bath; two daughters, Harriet Douglas and her husband, Allan, of Tyngsboro, Mass., and Virginia Hildenbrand of Bath; 11 grandchildren, Lincoln and Sawyer Hull of Alna, Wayne Hull of Litchfield, Craig Hull and his fiancee, Hilary LaLibert, of Belgrade, Quintin and Kaidin Webster of Bath, Mark Douglas and his wife, Susanne, of Melrose, Mass., Melissa Douglas of Bath, Heather Douglas of Tyngsboro, Mass., and Barbara and Joshua Hildenbrand of Bath; two brothers, Jack “John” Hull and his wife, Louise, of Albion, Pa., and James Hull and his wife, Pat, of Washington, Pa.; three sisters, Betty Westerfield and her husband, Emmett, of Washington, Pa., Mary Ella Hull of Lawrence, Pa., and Nancy Kiralfy and her husband, Jerry, of Manheim, Pa.; several dearly loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three brothers, Ralph, Dan and Paul Hull. Visiting hours will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 11, at David E. Desmond & Son Funeral Home, 638 High St., Bath. A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m. June 12 at First Church of the Nazarene, Center Street, Bath, officiated by Pastors Arden Cross and Donald Maguire, of Gospel Light Fellowship, and Dr. Barry Dutton, of First Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be afterward at Oak Grove Cemetery, Bath. Contributions may be made in his name to Compass Point Academy Scholarship, care of Pastor Arden Cross, 58 Wildwood Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011. Condolences may be expressed and a guest book signed at www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.
ROBERT W. HULL SR.
