Robert D. "Bob" Chamberlain, Sr.

Robert D. (Bob) Chamberlain, Sr., 94, of Orangeville and Benton, Pennsylvania, passed away on June 9 , 2018 with family nearby. He lived his entire life as a PA resident.

A descendant of Henry Chamberlin, the blacksmith, from Norfolk County, England, Bob, the elder son of Ruth Bixler Chamberlain and Ira Rankin Chamberlain, was  born in Columbia County, PA and resided there his entire life. He attended and was a graduate of the Orangeville Vocational High School before serving in the army stationed the Philippines in WWII.

Much like the words of his favorite poet, Robert Frost, Bob followed many paths on his life’s journey. He worked at the Chamberlain family farm and experienced several other endeavors eventually raising strawberries. But Bob is best known as the mailman. For 25 years, Bob delivered mail to the families surrounding Orangeville driving tank-like old Cadillac cars, which could maneuver in any kind of weather. For many folks, he was the one contact they had with the outside world. As a confirmed reader, Bob had some knowledge about most everything.  So much so that his young grandkids came to believe that “the mailman knows everything”.

Bob met his first wife, Teresa Chiki Chamberlain, at a roller skating rink in Berwick. They were married on May 4, 1946 and raised three boys. As a team, they served as the Junior Sponsors of the  Rural Letter Carriers Association for many years. Through this work, Bob and Terry developed a love of travel, venturing by camper across the US and later visiting many places worldwide.

After Terry’s death in 1984, Bob re-acquainted with Elizabeth Wiggins, a high school friend, at a class reunion. They were married in 1986 and lived most of their married life in Orangeville and Benton, sharing their retirement years together with travel, gardening and Bob mowing grass on a Wheel Horse.

Bob is survived by three devoted sons: Robert, married to Sally; David, married to Tomasina; and Mark, married to Deb. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Brant; Stephen, married to Elizabeth; James; Laura and Carrie; and two great-grandchildren, Finley and Sullivan. He is also survived by step-children Dottie Winther, married to Peter; Robert Wiggins, married to MaryAnn; and their children and grandchildren.  Also surviving is Bob's brother, Richard Chamberlain and his wife, Shirley. 

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 2 PM at the McMichael Funeral Home, Inc., 4394 Red Rock Road, (S. R. 487).  A Viewing will be held Tuesday from 1 PM until the time of the Service at McMichael's.  Burial will be in the Laurel Hill Cemetery, Orangeville. 

Memorial contributions may be made in Bob’s memory to the Orangeville Fire Company, P.O. Box 177, Orangeville, PA 17859.   A Memorial Service is also being planned.  For online condolences or for additional information, please visit our website:  www.mcmichaelfuneralhome.com . Cards and condolences for the Chamberlain Family may also be sent to Mr. and Mrs. Mark D. Chamberlain, 624 Draketown Road, Orangeville, PA 17859. 

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