Robert L. Pirie, Sr.

BARRE CITY - Robert “Bob” Pirie, was born in Barre City, Vermont, on February 9, 1925, and passed away in Williamstown, Vermont, on Sunday, March 8, 2015, at the age of 90. He was the son of Elliott and Etta (MacInnes) Pirie. For the past year, Bob made his home at The Gardens in Williamstown, Vermont. Previously he and his wife, Tiny, had lived in the same house on Hill Street in Barre for over 60 years, where they were surrounded by great neighbors.
Bob leaves his wife, Almerida “Tiny” (Perez) Pirie, whom he married on September 8, 1947, in the First Universalist Church in Barre. Tiny is a resident of the Brookside Nursing Home in White River Junction, VT. Bob was a devoted and loving father to their children: Jo Ellen Pirie of Hampton Beach, NH; Robert Pirie, Jr. and his wife, Theresa Ouellette, of Castleton, VT; Catherine Pirie Merrill and her husband, Scott, of Colchester, VT; and Christine Pirie Martuscello and her husband, Bill, of Westerly, RI. Bob will be missed by his adoring grandchildren, Sarah Churchill and her husband, Chris Gokey, Christopher and Amanda Grearson, Danielle Pirie, Cristin and Cayla Merrill, and Maria and Amelia Martuscello; and great-granddaughters McKenna and Addison Gokey. Bob is survived by his brother and sister-in-law the Rev. James G. and Lucille Pirie of Durham, NH, and his sister Ellen Pirie Robbins of Barre Town, VT. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Joe Perez and his wife Doris, sisters-in-law Regina “Lola” Perez and Esperanza “Titi” Ozanne, many cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Elliott “Junior,” brothers-in-law, Robert Robbins and Louis Perez, and sisters-in-law Ruth Pirie, Tomasa Remele, Carmen Lopez, and Albina “Bina” Perez.
Bob attended elementary school in Graniteville, until his father’s drowning at age 38 in the Hurricane of 1938, when his family moved to Barre. Bob acknowledged this tragedy was a defining moment in his life, when, at the age of 13, he went from a happy-go-lucky kid riding his pony, Silver, in the country, to a more serious and shy student in “the City.” Bob and his older (by 1 ½ years) brother, Junior, now had the responsibilities of being the “men” of the household for their mother, younger brother Jamie, and six-month-old sister, Ellen. Bob was drafted when he turned 18 in February, but was permitted to complete his high school education. Bob graduated from Spaulding High School with the class of 1943, and two weeks later was on his way to basic training. Bob was allowed to choose which branch of the service he preferred; he chose the U.S. Navy following in the footsteps of his father, and served aboard the U.S.S. Ronquil submarine as a torpedoman’s mate second class from July 3, 1943, until December 13, 1945. He participated in five war patrols in the South Pacific, and was the recipient of the WW II Victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal, and Commendation Ribbon. He was recognized for his service and presented with the Vermont Distinguished Service Medal at a State House ceremony in 2008. At a recent Ronquil reunion, Bob received a standing ovation for his heroics defending the submarine from attack while manning a machinegun top-side, at the age of 18. He was one of the few surviving “plank owners” of the Ronquil, and was a true example of the Greatest Generation.

After honorable discharge from the Navy, Bob worked for the family quarry business as a machinist. The family’s J.K. Pirie quarry in Graniteville was purchased in the 1950s and became known as the Pirie Division of the Rock of Ages Corporation. Bob would often surprise his kids after work with treasures hidden in his lunch pail that could be anything from a prized ball bearing for playing marbles, to a dead dragonfly he found for us to study. Bob worked at the quarry for 38 years, never missing one day of work, and retired in 1988.
Bob had a lifelong interest in genealogy, long before it was popular, and traced his Pirie/MacInnes ancestors to the 1400s without the use of a computer. He had an astounding memory and enjoyed reminiscing about the past so those who went before would not be forgotten. He was extremely proud of his Scottish heritage, and enjoyed listening to Celtic music. A highlight of his life was traveling for two weeks in Scotland at the age of 70 with his daughters Christine and Cathy.
Bob instilled in his children a respect for nature and all things wild during adventures at the family’s camp at Kettle Pond in Groton State Forest. It was at the “Pirie’s Moonlight Camp” that Bob and his deer hunting buddies would spend hours in the woods and even more hours playing cards. Those same woods provided many hours of cross-country skiing pleasure for Bob and his good friend of 70 years, Charlie Moran. Bob and Charlie would make their own trails and enjoy the beauty of the woods until both men were in their 80s. Bob could play the fiddle and harmonica and would entertain his family and friends, but only if asked. He was an avid reader and long-time patron of the Aldrich Public Library in Barre.
As a resident of The Gardens in Williamstown, Bob met many new friends and enjoyed many new activities. Before living in Williamstown, Bob could be seen daily with his Scottish walking stick and kneesocks with tassels traversing the many hills of Barre, often completing a six-mile trek to be home by 7:00 a.m. He continued his daily walks in the Village of Williamstown, but lamented he could now only walk one mile with his walker. He took his daily walks until the snows came in November, 2014. Bob led a long, good life and was an eternal optimist no matter what hardships came his way.
Bob’s family would like to thank the compassionate staff and fellow residents of The Gardens for their care, kindness, and friendship during the last year of his life. We also wish to extend thanks to the staff of the Central Vermont Office on Aging for their much-needed guidance, and to Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice for the care and support provided to Bob and his family.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at the Elmwood Cemetery in Barre City at the convenience of his family. There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington Street, Barre, VT 05641, or Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.
A celebration of Bob’s life will take place at The Gardens in Williamstown on Friday, March 13, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. Those wishing to share a memory of Bob are invited to gather with his family at this time.
The Hooker & Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street in Barre is assisting the Pirie family with the arrangements.