Obituary of Robert McKinley

CHESHIRE- Robert H. McKinley, 86, passed away Saturday February 23, 2013 at Mid-State Medical Center in Meriden. He was the loving husband of Irene (Obuchowski) McKinley. He was born January 8, 1927 in Waterbury. He was son of the late William and Elizabeth McKinley. Bob was a very intelligent and resourceful individual. As the owner of Bob McKinley Construction Co., he built numerous houses throughout Cheshire and the surrounding area. Bob and his brother Archie also constructed the Grange Hall. He worked as a laborer as a teenager. While working on Darcey School, he collected scrap wood from the concrete forms used to build the school. At 17, using mostly scrap materials, he made his first house. This house still stands, 59 years later and is in use. When construction slowed he started growing mums and shrubs with his wife Irene. This grew into a very successful bedding plant business with 8 Green Houses. Bob and Irene were also well known around town as the owners of McKinley Tree Farm which they worked on part time with their children on Marion Rd for the past 50 years. Bob will always be remembered by those close to him as the guy who was always there to help you out, looking for nothing in return. A good example of this was his close friendship with Father Torpey a priest at the Epiphany Church. For years, Bob donated many hours of labor, Christmas decoration, and trees. What made this unusual was that he was not a member of the church and not even catholic. If he liked you, he would give you a hand. It did not matter who you were. Besides his wife, Robert is survived by a son John and his wife Olga McKinley of Cheshire; four daughters Barbara and her husband Daniel Hedden of Cheshire, Donna and her husband Thomas Gagliardi of New Fairfield, Joan and her husband Gregory Boor of Bel Air, MD, and Ellen McKinley of Cheshire; seven grandchildren Robert, Christine, and Patrick Hedden, Nicholas Benner, Benjamin Boor, and William and Jason McKinley. He was predeceased by two brothers James and Archie McKinley, and his sister Elizabeth McKinley. Arrangements- A private graveside service for Robert will be held at St. Bridget Cemetery. Burial will follow after the service. Calling hours will be private. The Alderson Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 South Main Street, 06410 is in charge of the arrangements.