Robert N. Deline

On January 22, 2017 Robert {Bob} Deline passed from this earth to join his father in Heaven. Bob was born in Watertown, New York to Norman and Marie {Strong} Deline. Bob had a real active life. When only 15 he had his own ten-piece orchestra who played all over Northern N.Y. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the Navy and fought in WW2 On LSM 325 in the South Pacific. He took part in the liberation of the Philippines, and was in the invasion of Okinawa. He also took the occupation forces into Japan. After being discharged as a Radioman 3/C, he returned to Watertown and finished high school at I.H.A. where he met the love of his life, Mary Jane Coleman, the daughter of Daniel and Margaret Coleman. After graduation in July they were married, and had four children. Bob was a charter member of the Celebration Singers from Holy Family Church. He also was known as Sparky the Clown for many years. Bob joined the Watertown Fire Department in 1953, and retired in 1980 as a Captain. After retirement, he joined the Watertown lyric theater and appeared in Oklahoma and Show Boat; then in Little Theater he was in the Gazebo and played in the King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland. Bob and his wife then moved to Ormond By The Sea, Florida, where he joined the Surfside Barbershop Chorus and the Knights of Columbus and remained a member until his death. While in Florida he was employed by the Aliki Condominium and Publix Supermarket. Surviving Bob is his wife Mary, daughter Karen Lewchanin, from Jacksonville, FL and her husband Peter, sons Martin and his wife Barbara, from Denver, Colorado, and Michael and his wife Catherine from Watertown, New York. Bob also left behind 10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. His son Paul pre deceased him leaving his wife Teri and daughter Sara. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in his name to Surfside Chorus at 2901 Cypress Ridge Trail, Port Orange, FL 32128 or Knights of Columbus at 108 Heron Dunes Drive Ormond Beach FL 32176 Visiting hours will be at Dale Woodward Funeral Home, 1780 Ocean Shore Blvd. on Thursday January 26, 2017 from 4:00 to 6:00pm. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176 on Friday January 27, 2017 at 11:00am with Father Tom Barrett as celebrant. Entombment with military honors will be held directly after at Grace Lutheran, 338 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL 32176.