Robert N. Whitney

Robert was born in Keene on November 5, 1923 to Roy V. and Ruth Blanchard Whitney. He attended Keene schools and graduated from Keene High School in 1942.

Robert served as a Lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, participating in the Air Rescue section from 1942-1946. He was also in the Army Air Corp in 1946 and 1947.

He married Lois Gertrude Nichols at St. James Episcopal Church on June 17th, 1944 and was married for 64 years until Lois’s passing in 2008.

Robert worked for 32 years in Purchasing at Timken Super Precision (formerly MPB) in Keene, retiring in 1987. Robert was also a principal in a real estate investment partnership for 46 years.

A large portion of Robert’s life was devoted to music, both singing and playing the trumpet. Bob began singing in the choir at the St. James Episcopal Church at the age of 8 and remained an active participant for 75 years. Bob was also very active in the Barbershop community for over 40 years, singing in a number of quartets and participating in large choral ensembles. Bob served as president of the local barbershop chapter and received many prestigious awards for his singing acumen and service to the barbershop community.

Bob also had a legendary career in the Keene American Legion Post 4 Band. He was one of the founding members of the band in 1946 and played continuously in the band for 63 years. He also served on the Post 4 band board of directors for 45 years and was president of the board for 5 years.

Bob was a lifetime member of St. James Episcopal Church in Keene. For 48 years Bob was also a very active member of the Keene Lions Club, holding various offices, and receiving the Lions highest award, the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, in 1994.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman. He loved snow and water skiing, skating, hiking, parachuting and hang-gliding. He had an adventurous side.

Bob is survived by a son James V. Whitney of Portland, OR; daughter Gail Metzgar of The Villages, Florida; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Robert Whitney will be held on Saturday, March 8th at 10am at St. James Episcopal Church. Burial will follow at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Keene. A light reception will also be held at St. James Episcopal.

Fletcher Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 33 Marlboro St., Keene, NH is in charge of the arrangements. (www.fletcherfuneralhome.com)

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Bob Whitney’s name to American Legion, Post #4, 797 Court St., Keene, NH 03431 or the Keene Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, PO Box 225, Keene, NH 03431.