Robert Verdon (Bob) Chase, of Whitefield, passed away Feb. 20, at his home surrounded by friends and family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob was born Aug. 4, 1945, in Boothby Harbor, the son of Verdon (Pug) and Helen Quinnam Chase.
After graduating from Wiscasset High School in 1965, Bob entered the U.S. Navy. After attending boot camp at the United States Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Ill., Bob served aboard the USS Ranger during his first tour in Vietnam. Bob was honorably discharged in 1969 and after returning home worked as an Augusta firefighter and policeman until 1973 when he reenlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his second tour of Vietnam, Bob served aboard the USS Hancock. After the USS Hancock, Bob worked on decomissioning ships and taught firefighting at Treasure Island, California. After California, Bob served aboard the USS Proteus and the USS Hunley while being stationed in Guam and South Carolina. While aboard the USS Ranger, Bob’s unit was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon and the Armed Forces Expditionary Medal (Korea). While aboard the USS Hunley, he was awarded the First Good Conduct Award, Battle “E” Award, Sea Service Ribbon (with one bronze star) and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Due to his father’s illness, Bob was asked to return home and he left the Navy honorably discharged in 1981. Upon returning home, Bob went to work for Bath Iron Works as a rigger/crane operator, until early retirement in 2002, due to failing health.
In 1987, Bob married the love of his life and his soul mate Roberta Keenan (Bobbi) Chase. For the next 20 years, they worked side by side owning and operating Ragged Rock Farm, running a vegetable stand, cutting and selling firewood, raising beef cattle and other farm animals and making maple syrup. Maine Maple Sunday was always a big event at the farm. Bob took great pride in the farm. After his second heart surgery in 2003, Bob spent many hours clearing and building what he called Chevy Chase Memorial Park, a campground at the farm, named after his beloved yellow lab Chevy who was killed in a tragic car accident.
Bob spent all his spare time in the park landscaping and entertaining family and friends for parties and cookouts. His most memorable event was a surprise birthday party for him when he turned 60. Dubbed the best kept secret in Whitefield, more than 50 friends and family were there to celebrate his birthday party put on by his wife, where Bob received a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle, that he had been longing for since he was a teenager. He always welcomed everyone with open arms, and when he wasn’t on his Harley, he was always seen around town in his truck with a faithful yellow lab at his side. Bob had a great love for animals, and had many wonderful yellow labs during his lifetime. His latest companion was Sadie and she was always in the truck with him. Bob loved to hunt, fish, ride his Harley and snowmobile and spent many hours teaching young people to enjoy the sport as much as he did.
Bob was a member of DAV (Disabled American Veterans), HOG, (Harley Owners Group), UBM, (United Bikers of Maine) and the Whitefield/Jefferson Snowmobile Club. Bob spent many hours working on the snowmobile trails, trimming brush, bushhogging and dragging trails with his own resources.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Roberta Keenan (Bobbi) Chase of Whitefield; daughters, Andrea and husband Joseph Grant of Patten and Jodele and husband Kevin Brandt of Readfield; grandsons, Hunter Chase Brandt of Readfield, and Joseph Robert Grant of Patten; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Kimball and companion John Hower of Farmingdale, Lynn Rose and companion James Griffiths of Carver, Mass., Marjorie Parent and husband Bruce of Lewiston and Brenda Drake and husband Terry of Readfield; many cousins and several nieces nephews; special friends, Steve and Jennifer Grady, Richard Howell, Danny Weeks; and constant Harley riding companion, Gregory Hodgkins.
Friends and family may call 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Tues., Feb. 23 at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Funeral service 10 a.m., Wed., Feb. 24 at the Sheepscot Valley Community Church, Kings Mills, with a small reception directly to follow at the Kings Mill Hall.
Burial and a celebration of Bob’s life will be held at a later date to be announced, at the Whitefield Cemetery in Kings Mills, followed by a reception to be held in Bob’s beloved Chevy Chase Memorial Park, sometime this summer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kings Mills Hall Restoration Fund, c/o Judy Maldovan, P.O. Box 49, Whitefield, ME 04353.
Arrangements are entrusted to Staples Funeral Home, Gardiner.
