Veteran retired printer Bob Pell dies at home

It has happened to us again, twice in one week. Cal Deshong just e-mailed the sad news that veteran retired printer Robert Pell passed away Thursday at home. The obituary will probably be in Sunday’s Beacon Journal.

The past year was filled with both sad and happy times for Bob who was the mainstay at the monthly Beacon Journal Retirees Luncheon. Often it was Bob who shot the photos of the lunch which were posted here. The two photos are from retiree lunches. One was in May 2008 which was the last lunch he attended with his son. It was reported at the last lunch in June that Bob was not up to attending. The other photo is from September 2007 when his daughter, Catherine Sanstead, son Bob and daughter-in-law accompanied him.

In March this year, Bob became a great-grandfather with the arrival of Nicholas Joseph, son of grandson Joe and Carrie.

There was sad news the month before. Bob’s sister, Kathryn “Kitty” Brown, died February 5 in Georgia at the age of 80.

The big blow came six days later on February 11 when Bob’s wife Peggy died at the age of 77. She was born August 6, 1929 in Clay, West Virginia to the late W. Erving and Daisy Sizemore.

Bob and Peggy Sizemore were married August 20, 1949 in Clay, WV, and had lived in Wadsworth for 52 years. Bob retired from the Beacon Journal in 1991 after nearly 35 years of service. They had four children, Cathy, Robert Jr., Steve and John; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Pell was honored by the by the Wadsworth Aerie #2117 Fraternal Order of Eagles which dedicated the Bob Pell Pavilion in his honor on July 18, 2004, More than 200 members attended the dedication. The honor was for more than 30 years of service as treasurer of the Aerie by Pell before he resigned because of a health problem. He also was publisher of a four-page newsletter for the lodge which he put together six times a year for eleven years. Bob and his wife, Peg, who had just celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, and their son, Bob, and his wife stood proudly in front of the dedication stone at the ceremony. There was a crowd of more than 500 for the picnic after the dedication. The pavilion at 9953 Rittman Road, Wadsworth, is open for rental to members and the public.

In addition to his service to the lodge, Bob did volunteer work for Handicapped Citizens of Medina County. Peggy in her earlier years was a school teacher and a volunteer for the Meals on Wheels program.