Robert L. Gale

Robert L. Gale, 79, of Otter River died at Heywood Hospital Wednesday morning after being stricken ill at home.

He leaves his wife of 38 years, Patricia (Lempart) Gale; children Suzanne Gale of Concord, NH, Douglas and his wife Rosalie of Seattle, WA, Jeffrey Collins and his fiancee Jennie House of Phillipston, and Laura Lajoie and her husband David of Worcester; grandchildren Maximus Lajoie and Anja Lajoie of Worcester, Anthony Collins of Athol, Zachary Collins of Phillipston, and Ian and Nicholas Ewert of Concord, NH; two brothers, Peter Gale and his wife Martha of Hampton, NH, and John Gale of New Salem; two nieces and a nephew.

Bob was born in Athol in 1945, son of William G. and Virginia (Miller) Gale and was a 1963 graduate of Athol High School. He received an Associates Degree from Greenfield Community College before entering the Air Force in 1967.

He served as a power production specialist at Indian Mountain Air Force Base in Alaska, Topsham Air Force Base in Maine, and The Notch, a Post-Attack Command and Control System facility located on and under Bare Mountain in Hadley, Massachusetts, near Westover AFB. After leaving the Air Force in 1971 with the rank of sergeant, he attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Bob was employed in sales at Greenfield Tap & Die Co., then worked for many years in regional, national, and export sales management positions at Starrett Tool Co. in Athol. His work at Starrett took him around the world, including stops as wide-ranging as Singapore, China, Japan, Korea, Spain, Denmark, India, and South America. Before retiring, he worked as sales manager at Mayhew Tools in Turners Falls.

Bob was a life-long avid golfer with a single-digit handicap, playing at Ellinwood Country Club in Athol and later at Templewood Golf Course in Templeton, twice scoring a hole in one. Bob enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren; working around the yard, especially with his Kubota tractor; watching golf on TV, and deep-sea fishing with friends.

He was a member of American Legion Post 373 in Baldwinville.

Bob's final years were spent battling Parkinson's Disease. The family is thankful to the Veterans Administration and the team of its Home Based Care program for helping him through that difficult time.

Calling hours at the Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner, are from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m, on Wednesday, June 25, with funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Massachusetts Veterans Cemetery, Winchendon, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center in Gardner.