Robert C. "Bob" Rourke

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 28th from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at St. Henry’s Catholic Church located at 6401 Harding Pike in Nashville.

Funeral services will take place on Thursday, January 29th at 12:00 noon at St. Henry’s Church with Fr. Mike Johnson officiating.

Interment will follow at Calvary cemetery.

Bob was born December 24, 1924 to Marcia and John Rourke of New Orleans, LA, the second of three boys. Bob lost his father when he was four and he and his brothers were raised by their mother. Throughout his life, he would tell stories of his youth on the streets of depression era New Orleans, his war experience as a bombardier navigator on B24 bombing raids over Germany, and his gregarious love of friends and family.

Bob married Patty Curry of New Orleans in 1947 with whom he raised four children: Robbie, Mike, Colleen, and Sharon. Bob’s career culminated in his establishment, with Art Dealy, of the Dealy Rourke Personnel Service in Nashville in 1957, from which he retired in 1987.

After the death of Patty in 1993, Bob married Betty Mercy and began a retirement during which he perfected his golf game and offered volunteer services to St. Henry’s, St. Thomas Hospital, and the Nashville Public Library. He and Betty traveled extensively and Bob especially enjoyed his golfing trips to Palm Springs.

Bob is survived by his wife, Betty, his daughters and sons-in-law Sharon and Danny Smith of Dickson, TN and Colleen and Phil Marlino of Houston, TX, and his sons Mike of Hill City, MN and Bob (Jr.) and Marnie Rourke of Oak Park, IL. Bob has seven grandchildren from his first wife, Patty. He also has seven grandchildren through his second wife, Betty.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Alive Hospice of Nashville.