- ECCLESTON, Robert (Bob) Hedley
April 18, 1946 - Barrow-in-Furness, England
February 11, 2019 - Calgary, Alberta
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Robert Hedley Eccleston (Bob) at the age of 72. He was the most loving and beloved father and grandfather, husband, brother and friend. We will forever miss his guiding presence in our lives. He was our rock, our soft place to fall, and always there for anyone who needed him. He was generous with his love, his time, and his talents.
Bob was born on April 18, 1946 in Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria, England and was very proud of his English heritage. He immigrated to Calgary, Canada with his parents Robert (Bob) and Winifred (Winnie) and his beloved older sister Ann in September 1953 on the S.S. Atlantic. He lived the majority of his early years in Thorncliffe, where he had many adventures and made lifelong friends. He attended both the University of Calgary and the University of Alberta, graduating in 1967 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He married Peggy in December 1967 and together they built a home and family in Dalhousie, welcoming daughters Jennifer(1972) and Hilary(1977). Bob was proud of his work in the oil and gas industry and moved up quickly to a management role. He began his career with Alberta Gas Trunkline in 1969 and left them in 1976 to take 18 months "off" with Peggy and Jennifer to take what was initially planned to be a trip around the world in a Volkswagen van, and later became a trip around the US and Canada in a motorhome. He then worked many years with Dome Petroleum, then on to Amoco and others. A job transfer brought the family to Windsor, Ontario in 1981 where they stayed for four years before finding their way back home to Calgary. Over the next 30 years Bob brought his skills and experience to many roles at many companies and was well respected in his industry. He most recently worked for GeoMetrix Rail Logistics and Crude Oil on Rail Enterprises (CORE) and retired this past year.
Bob was a devoted husband to Peggy and made life with him an adventure, whether antiquing, camping, or renovating. Together they traveled to many amazing places, including Asia and Antarctica, and shared their love of learning about different places and cultures. Bob was a wonderful father to Hilary and Jennifer, always there to patch up wounds, physical and emotional. He taught through example the importance of helping others and working hard. He knew a little about everything and a lot about most things and, together with Peggy, taught his girls to appreciate knowledge and be lifelong learners. He was a loving father-in-law to Alan whom he loved as his own, Bob was a loving and supportive Grandpa to Hayley (1994), Aaron(1995), and Connor (2001). He always made time for his grandchildren, whether taking them camping, assisting with school projects, or simply taking them for lunch and a chat. He never forgot what it was like to be a child and maintained a sense of wonder and curiosity. He had a goofy sense of humour that his children and grandchildren loved and appreciated. He loved to laugh and has taught us all how to find lightness in any situation and to use laughter to get through hardship. We will try to remember this while we grieve. He has left a lifetime of wonderful memories for us all to cherish.
Bob had many dear friends that will miss him greatly, some of whom he has known since he was quite young. He loved to share stories about his life and had a great appreciation for the people he met along the way. He was able to make friends wherever he went and never missed an opportunity to get to know someone, whether the cashier at the grocery store or the person sitting beside him in a waiting room. He was genuinely interested in people and their lives and was generous even to those he barely knew. He loved a debate, was a die-hard Conservative, and was very proud to be an Albertan and a Canadian.
A Celebration of Bob's Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W., Calgary, AB), on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 200, 119 - 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. All those who loved him will miss him beyond measure.
Published on February 16, 2019
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1946 - 2019 (72 years)
