Sharon, Vt. —
He was born April 21, 1949, in Hanover, N.H., the son of Harold F. and Sarah E. (Gibson) Donahue. He attended school in Sharon, and later South Royalton where he graduated in 1967 from South Royalton High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1973.
On July 5, 1986, he married Marie Bahr of Sharon and they made their home in Sharon. Robert had many jobs which included working at Northern Energy Home; the Winter Company as a warehouse manager; Potter Construction; a self-employed building contractor and a property manager/caretaker for Bill and Jane Stetson of Norwich, Vt., where he retired in 2010 due to ill health.
He was a member of the Hartford Elks Club #1541, Hartford American Legion Post #26 and the Sharon Volunteer Fire Dept. He enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, jeeping and wood working. His extreme generosity spoke for itself when it came to helping his family and friends. He was a truly gifted and talented man who asked for nothing in return.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Marie Bahr Donahue of Sharon; a son, Robert Donahue (Jennifer) and grandchildren, Meagan, Brett and Lizzie all of Aurora, Colo.; a daughter, Christine Kelly (Dan) and grandchildren, Taylor and Caitlyn of Millington, Tenn.; four stepchildren, Billy Bahr (Anna) and Thomas Bahr (Michelle) all of Neptune, N.J., Gregory Bahr (Kim) of Bethel, Vt., and Ronny Bahr (Kathy) of Tunbridge, Vt.; eight step-grandchildren, Danielle Blodgette and Taylor Bahr both of Randolph Center, Vt., Nichole Manning of Bethel, Lauren Bahr, Meagan Bahr, Lindsey Bahr, Christopher Bahr and Mathew Bahr all of Neptune; five step-great-grandchildren, Quinn, Fischer and Miles of Vermont and Emaly and Mathew of New Jersey; three sisters, Mary Donahue, Linda Rikert and Patty Donahue all of Sharon; four nephews, John Leighton, Mathew Rikert, John Rikert and Josh Donahue and a niece, Julia McKenna.
He was predeceased by his parents, Sarah and Harold Donahue and his brothers, Earl and Roger Donahue.
There will be no calling hours. A graveside memorial service will be held later this spring at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vt. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Sharon Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 74, Sharon, VT 05065. A private message for sympathy for the family may be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com. A special “thank you” to the Veterans Administration Hospital in White River Jct., Vt., for all the care they have provided. Arrangements are under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea, Vt.