Robert John “Bob” Kearney died peacefully at home in Huntsville, AL after a courageous battle with cancer that never diminished his humor or love of family. Bob was born in New Rochelle, NY to William Joseph and Justine Kearney. The family moved to Florida in 1940, and he graduated from Brandon High School. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War (1949-1953). In 1956, he graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Electrical Engineering, launching him as a lifelong Gator fan. A few days after graduating, he married the love of his life, Jean Webb.
His engineering career spanned almost 40 years, and included work on memory systems for NASA’s Gemini and Voyager projects. In Huntsville, he worked for SCI for 24 years until his retirement in 1994. He had one of those active retirements so that he often commented that he didn’t know when he’d had time to work.
He always had a good sense of humor, often the corny kind that made you roll your eyes. He was easily silly and liked making those around him laugh.
Throughout his life he was an athlete, from high school football, baseball, and basketball to his love of tennis in his later years. He played tennis, knees wrapped, until age 85.
He was a lifelong vocalist with a beautiful baritone voice. He sang in community theater in Florida and was a Holy Spirit Catholic Church choir member for over 40 years. He was a dedicated volunteer from Little League to Habitat for Humanity to St Vincent De Paul. He loved gardening, working in his yard, and was an old-fashioned do-it-yourself guy. Above all, he loved his wife and family and treasured time with each. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. We will miss him immeasurably.
Godspeed, Bob Kearney. You were the real deal – one of the good guys.
He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Richard Kearney; and sister, Judy Nolder. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean Webb Kearney; daughter, Debbie Kearney (Dale Williams) of Tybee Island, GA, Kathy Boyd (Joseph) of Huntsville, AL; son, Robert W. Kearney (Didi) of Huntsville, AL; grandsons, Erik Reimers (Rachel) and Ryan Reimers; granddaughters Emily Kearney-Williams, and Leslie Crow (Josh Olive); and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, January 24 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 25 at the church with Father Michael Mac Mahon officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St Vincent De Paul at Holy Spirit Catholic Church or Hospice of North Alabama.
