Robert B. Bisbee passed away peacefully on November 21, 2011, at Mike Conley Hospice in Clermont, Florida. Bob was born in Waitsfield, VT, on January 8, 1924, to Clarence “Doc” and Dorothy (Savage) Bisbee.
In 1942, he graduated from Waitsfield High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps where he completed flight training. Bob was commissioned as 2nd Lt. pilot. Bob flew over 600 hours including Stearman, Vultee, AT-6, AT-10 and mostly B-24s. On August 10, 1945, he married Imogene “Jo” Garland at Langley Field in Virginia and was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in November 1945.
After being discharged, Bob and Jo came to Waitsfield where they made their home. He trained with Somers & Sons in Montpelier where he learned plumbing and the trade of a “tinsmith.” He and his father “Doc” purchased a grocery store in Waitsfield Village in 1948 which they converted to Bisbee’s Hardware in 1952. They owned Bisbee’s Hardware until 1972. Bob also worked in the tinsmith, plumbing and heating trades. After they sold Bisbee’s Hardware, he and Jo moved to the Loop Road where Bob continued his sheet metal work until he retired and moved in 1992 to The Plantation at Leesburg, Florida.
His memberships included the Mad River American Legion Post #75, Waitsfield Volunteer Fire Department for more than 40 years and the Waitsfield Couples Club. He followed Jo and began to play golf, which gave him many, many days of fun at Sugarbush Golf Course and Blush Hill. He and his buddies have many stories of their exploits around Vermont playing golf. He also loved hunting, fishing and going to camp in the Northeast Kingdom. He truly loved the “Kingdom.” When he moved to Florida he continued his exploits with golf and explored the land, orange groves and woods around The Plantation at Leesburg on his many “snake hunts.”
He was predeceased by Jo on November 3, 2011. Survivors include Sandra Bisbee Mix (Philip), of The Plantation at Leesburg, Florida; Jimsey Bisbee of Lexington, South Carolina; and son Robert B. Bisbee Jr. of Mt. Dora, Florida. He also leaves a grandson Robert D. Mix of Fruitland Park, Florida. He is survived by his brother Richard M. Bisbee of Waitsfield and sister-in-law Ardella Kalkes, Leesburg, FL. He also leaves several nieces and nephews.
There will be no services until spring 2012 with a graveside service at that time at the Waitsfield Common Cemetery. Page-Theus of Leesburg is in charge of arrangements. The family requests that there be no flowers. However, contributions may be made to the Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778 in Bob’s memory.
