Robert Clair “Curly” Girvin, Sr., 89, of 166 Girvin Lane, Mifflinburg, began his journey to join his loved ones with the Lord on Saturday the 23rd of February at 8:45 a.m. with family and friends beside him at Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg.
Curly was born on November 18, 1918 in Paradise Twp., Lancaster County the son of the late Milton and Anna (Paxton) Girvin. On May 25, 1951 in Elkton, MD, he was married to the former Martha A. Walls who survives. His death has broken a very loving bond of nearly 57 years.
Curly attended schools in Lancaster County. In May of 1944 he joined the United States Army and joined the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment 17th Infantry Division. In March of 1945 he was wounded while parachuting into battle in Rhineland over Germany. He received the Purple Heart Medal, the Good Conduct Meal, the EAME Service Medal with one Bronze Star, and a Victory Medal. Curly was very proud of his service to our country and liked to talk to his grandsons, Bobby and Chase about defending our country and keeping it safe. Because of his injury, on December 1, 1945 at Fort Indiantown Gap he received his honorable discharge.
Curly enjoyed being a truck driver and his work with anything involving trucking. In the early 1950’s he drove a milk tank for Robert H. Carr and Sons Int. of Sheffield in Lewisburg. He later worked for Pens Truck Aid and was leased to E.I. DuPont in Wilmington, DE. In 1962 he went into management and was a mediator for the company and handled all driver grievances for the Truckers Union making many trips to Washington DC. He transferred to many different places, and represented drivers from many areas, including; Richmond, Virginia, New Jersey, Wilkes Barre. He also was a mediator for Driving with Calgon in Pittsburgh; Champion Valley in Bloomsburg and Sylvania Electric in Altoona. He retired in April 1983.
He along with his wife and son owned and operated a restaurant and lounge known as Bob-Ets, in Tyrone, PA for several years. In 1987 he moved back to Mifflinburg to spend some quality time with his father-in-law before he passed away. Curly worked part-time after retiring here as a Security Guard for International Paper and Pennsylvania House.
He enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing and just sitting at his camper along the Juniata River. In earlier years he enjoyed bowling and pitching horseshoes.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Robert C. Girvin Jr. of Mifflinburg; a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Donald Walls of Mifflinburg; nine grandchildren, Bobby & Chase Girvin of Mifflinburg, Debbie Cochran of Coudersport, Barbara Owens and Billy Birchen of Dora, Alabama, Jack Mull of Mifflinburg, Jimmy Koch and John Koch of Lewisburg and Barry Koch of Atlanta, Georgia; 12 great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, three nephews, two nieces; and a brother, Samuel E. Girvin at Rolling Hills Manor, Millmont.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Betty Laudenslager; a granddaughter, Cindy Austin; a grandson, Donald Koch; and three brothers, Harry & Fred Girvin of Lancaster and Sumner Girvin of Apache Junction, Arizona.
Curly was a member of the Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church, Tyrone and an associate member of Hironimus Church in Weikert. He truly loved being a member of that church and the beauty that surrounded it.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4559, Tyrone; a lifetime member of the American Legion Post No. 182, Lewisburg; and an Honorable Member of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union (IBT).
Family and friends will be received by the family from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday at Schwartz-Adamo Funeral and Cremation Services, 247 Chestnut St., Mifflinburg. The funeral conducted at 11 on Wednesday with the Rev. Ralph T. Unroe, Pastor of the Hironimus Church, officiating.
Interment with full military honors will be in Mazeppa Union Cemetery, Union County.
In lieu of flowers donations in Clair’s memory can be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016.
Arrangements are entrusted to Schwartz-Adamo Funeral and Cremation Services, 247 Chestnut St., Mifflinburg, PA 17844, (570) 966-2702.
For more information, to send condolences, or to sign the guestbook, visit www.schwartzadamo.com.
