Robert "Bob" George Murley

Robert G. Murley, 79, of 10 Grove Avenue West, died Tuesday, March 20, 2012, surrounded by his loving family and close friends.

Bob, also known by his oldest friends as "Lefty," retired from New England Telephone Co. in 1989, and, after many years of "snowbirding" between Massachusetts and Florida, moved permanently to Lake Wales in 2004. He became an Eagle Scout in 1952 and was the recipient of the Bishop Weldon Award in 1955 and the St. George Cross in 1962. He was the first scoutmaster of Troop 69 in 1952, attended three scout jamborees and remained active in Boy Scouts for much of his life, as a scoutmaster and commissioner. He learned to skate in the 1970s and coached youth hockey. He was a longtime member of the Bernardston and Lake Wales Kiwanis Clubs. He worked at the telephone company for 34 years as a line assigner, central office switchman and toll tester. He was a life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He loved gardening, hiking and camping and enjoyed traveling on a number of cruises in his later years.

Bob is predeceased by his son, Robert C. Murley, two wives, Dorothy (Foley) Murley and Donna (Wilkinson) Murley, his sister, Patricia Gamlin, and stepson, Chris Wilkinson. He is survived by his daughters, Joanne K. Murley of Newington, CT and Karen L. Murley-Kells and her husband, David Kells of Montague Center, MA, his stepson, Craig Wilkinson, his wife Roselle Wilkinson of Marietta, GA, stepdaughter-in-law Nancy Wilkinson of Elon, NC, four grandchildren, Emily and Natalie Kells and Michael and Rachel Wilkinson, and two sisters, Bette Pollard of Spring Hill, FL and Joyce Wright of Tampa, FL. He also leaves his special friend, Charlene Lord and her family, with whom he recently spent many happy occasions.

A service will be held at Water's Edge, 10 Grove Avenue West, Lake Wales, on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 3:30pm. A funeral mass will be held in Massachusetts and he will be buried with Dot and Bobby in Greenfield.

His family is so very grateful for the gentle and compassionate care provided to Bob by Cornerstone Hospice and the staff at Water's Edge.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boy Scouts of America, either the Gulf Ridge Council, 13228 North Central Avenue, Tampa, FL 33612, or the Great Trails Council, Pittsfield Service Center, 2 South Street, Suite 125, Pittsfield, MA 01201.