Robert Wilson Laird, Jr. of North East, formerly of Quakertown, Pa., died March 12, 2016, at Christiana Hospital, Newark, Del. He was 70. Born October 4, 1945, at Aultman Hospital, Canton, Ohio, he was the son of the late Robert Wilson and Zelma Ruth (Trueshel) Laird. As a member of a military family, Mr. Laird spent parts of his youth in France and in Germany. For most of his youth, however, home was Fort Dix in Browns Mills, N.J. He was a star pitcher for the local Little League team, hurling two no-hitters in his career. In his teen years, he picked up the alto saxophone and joined the high school jazz band which even recorded a “45”. After high school, he attended Kent State University for a year as a Biology major before entering the workforce. He served his country as an Airman First Class through the Air National Guard of New Jersey (USAF). His unit was called to duty in the Vietnam Conflict and his primary role was that of an air traffic controller stationed at Chu Lai Air Base.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen Vivian (Crockett) Laird, who died May 25, 1990. Introduced to him by a mutual friend, Bonnie – as she was better known - was a red-headed spitfire who brought out the very best in him. Married July 20, 1969, the Lairds went on to have one son, Bobby, and spent the next 20 years as hardworking and fun loving parents and friends. Bonnie as one of the head RNs at the Abington Memorial Hospital ER and Bob working many sales positions – including the Clam Bar he ran in 1975. Primarily, he worked in construction fields; including inspection roles with the Army Corps of Engineers and the 1987-1988 additions to Quakertown Community Senior High School – the latter being his most-cherished professional accomplishment. The three of them loved to laugh and attend events together, especially treasuring their annual pilgrimage to DCI East Championships at J. Birney Crum, subway trips to Veterans Stadium to see the Phillies, the Chicago concert on the Parkway with 500,000 of their closest friends, Spectrum shows with Neil Diamond, the Bee Gees, Billy Joel, and the time that Bob took Bobby to see KISS – and lived to tell about it. In the days before cellphones, Bob and Bonnie utilized CB radio to communicate as their work schedules often crossed – her handle was “Migraine” and his, “Hammer Hand”. They used to meet for a quick hug and kiss at the entrance to Whitemarsh Cemetery. Bob was “head of security” for Bobby’s growing DJ business for which he even designed and built a full lighting rig that was flown from the rafters and another rig that dropped hundreds of balloons onto the unsuspecting crowd below. Mr. Laird would eventually move to Maryland to be closer to Bobby’s growing family. He was a very active grandfather, attending all of the dance recitals and school concerts, being a roadie for talent shows, and cheering loudly from the stands at marching band performances. He had sleepovers with the girls when they were little and took Amanda and Robbie fishing in more recent years. He volunteered with North East United Methodist Church’s Vacation Bible School programs for many years – helping with the nursery-aged children and was always ready to lend a hand when he saw a need at home or in the community. He is survived by a son, Robert William Laird and his wife, Sharon (Dell); three grandchildren, Kimberly, Amanda, and Robert – all of Elkton; a half-sister, Ruth Ann (Cronin) Green of Panama City, Fla.; sister-in-law, Patricia Rieker (Kenneth) of Lansdale, Pa. and nephew, Jonathan Rieker of Pottstown, Pa.; beloved friend, Virginia Koch of Sellersville. He was also preceded in death by a half-brother, Alden F. Cronin. A funeral service, conducted by Pastor Mark E. Dell of Reflections Bible Church in Middletown, Del., will be held Wednesday, March 16, at 5 p.m. at Crouch Funeral Home, P.A., 127 South Main Street, North East, with visitation beginning at 3:30 p.m. until service time. Burial with full military honors will be held Thursday, March 17, at 11 a.m. at Whitemarsh Memorial Park, 1169 Limekiln Pike, Ambler, PA 19002. Memorial contributions may be made to North East Middle School National Junior Honor Society’s Relay for Life Team – of which Bob’s grandson is a member – made out to “NEMS NJHS” and sent via Crouch Funeral Home. Comments are closed.
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