Bob Looney
My son, Jeff, granted me one of the greatest favors of my life
yesterday in driving Jeanie and me though our home towns of Portsmouth and New
Boston. Further east, we drove to the
top of the Wheelersburg Memorial Cemetery and witnessed a celebration of love
by friends and family of our good friend Bob.
In later years, he somehow adopted his first name of John.
Of the friends, they were
split among several I did not know and six Mound Park Urchins octogenarians,
mainly with their spouses. The reverend Sweeney
said only a few words but the grateful daughters, Lisa and Laurie, gave loving
testimonies of their dad. Then
granddaughter, Mandy, sang softly in acapello, Amazing Grace. Soothing to our souls. Most of the Urchins present had heard Mandy
sing when she was nine, at a party Bob hosted in his South Shore Ky home years
ago. All of the girls are beautiful and
talented. There were a few other
wonderful stories by Ginny, Bob’s sister, and a few. Dick Klitch told some stories of our humble
and so well-liked friend and his nearly adjoined Urchin brother, Bob Lyles, who has
passed on before. Marine Sergeant John
Bob Looney was given the American Legion Post 23 send off with a twenty-one gun
salute.
In all, it was a ceremony of
life as endings should be. I am happy
about a personal feeling with the Father of Jesus that Bob will be enjoyed
among Heaven’s dwellers.
Sam Kegley (with Wife,
Jeanie).