November 19, 1926 – June 16, 2022
A light-hearted and faithful man, Bob once said he wanted to be remembered as a nice guy!
He outlived many friends and family members who would recall his jovial nature. Mary Hulsman Doyle, his wife for 72 years, shared life’s challenges and joys and misses him dearly.
Bob happily recalled his childhood in Western Pennsylvania mining towns with families from diverse backgrounds. There his love of baseball began as a boy watching company teams compete. He never tired of recalling the record home run hit out of the park: across the train tracks, up the hill and through the church sacristy window!
Music was an important part of his life; trained as a child on violin, he opted for trumpet in high school and played in a band. He went to great lengths to create a home stereo system to listen to big band swing music. Like his mother, he often sang around the home. The Classical Station comforted him in his final years.
After 35 years of work in the steel industry, Bob and Mary left PA for Kill Devil Hills where they enjoyed beach life with good friends. A member of Duck Woods Country Club, he played golf and worked both at Duck Woods and the Sea Ranch. He built and flew model airplanes and enjoyed socializing with the local flying group.
Together, Bob and Mary helped care for grandchildren Luke, Katie, Anna and Daniel. They fondly remember the milkshakes he made for them after school and playing in the friendly neighborhood while Grampa hit golf balls to his dogs.
The family members who loved and helped him reach age 95 at home are his wife, Mary; children, Jim and Cathy (Ron DeVeau); grandchildren, Katie and Anna Kennis, Daniel DeVeau and Luke and Lydia Doyle; as well as in-laws, John and Jim Hulsman. Other surviving family members include Robert C. Doyle, William Doyle, Charles Doyle and Mary Therese Doyle. His beloved youngest daughter Maggie Kennis preceded him to heaven.
A church member all his life, Bob loved singing in the choir both in Pennsylvania and at Holy Redeemer by the Sea. He firmly believed Christ rose from the dead and received us into God’s unconditional love upon death. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 11 o’clock at the Holy Trinity Church in Nags Head.
Please express condolences to the family via the online register at
www.gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services, Inc was entrusted with arrangements.
