On Sunday, January 18, 2015, prior Cookeville Boat Dock owner Robert (Bob) Porter Irvine died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family in Athens, Alabama. He was 90 years old.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at the Crest Lawn Funeral Home in Cookeville, Tennessee at 12 noon on Friday, January 23. Interment will follow.
Robert Porter Irvine was born May 1, 1924 in Covington, Kentucky and was the younger of three Irvine children.
He is survived by an an older sister, Gene Schoenburg, who resides in Buffalo, New York. He had a twin brother who died at birth.
Bob began working for J.C. Penny in Danville, KY, then was drafted into WWII and served in the US Army as a Military Escort Guard in Europe, Japan, and stateside. He came home to marry his elementary school sweetheart, Verle Saucy, in 1951. They moved to Tennessee to own/manage Celina Boat Dock on Dale Hollow Lake, later Fontana Boat Dock in Fontana Village and finally, Cookeville Boat Dock in Baxter, Tennessee. His love of fishing led to many good times at the docks for family and friends.
Bob also worked at FleetGuard Corporation as a foreman and a shop specialist. He retired to Winchester, Tennessee on Tims Ford Lake, and then moved back to Cookeville until he and Verle moved to Athens, Alabama to be close to family.
He will be fondly remembered by family and friends for not only his love of fishing but also his creative ability, woodworking, drawing and storytelling. His fish stories have been passed from one fisherman to another for many years. His family remembers many wonderful children stories about Pot-Belly and Bruen.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Verle Noma Saucy Irvine and three daughters: oldest daughter Noma (Vic) Goodin, children, Emily, Robert (Anna); middle daughter Sue (Terry) Warren and son, Clay Lovlace; youngest daughter Mary (Van) Miller, children, Becca (Wade) Cherry, James, Marigail, and Tim; Abbie (Drew) Postoak, Kayheysin and Lex; Cassie (Jared) Wallin; and Will Miller.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
