Robert O'Hara, Sr.

Robert B. O’Hara, Sr. (Bob) passed away September 9, 2017, at his home in Catonsville, Maryland at the age of 85.  Bob was born December 1, 1931, to Bernard and Pauline (Graf) O’Hara in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  He was the youngest of four children.

Bob served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.  He was an amphibious tank driver and received the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

After an honorable discharge, Bob met the love of his life, Shirley Ratchford. They were married in 1955 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  Bob and Shirley stayed in the Scranton area for a short while before moving to Old Bridge, New Jersey, and eventually settling in Bowie, Maryland to raise their family.

Bob retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Associate Director of the Office of Construction and Facilities Management. He and Shirley then spent 22 wonderful years in Annapolis, Maryland.

In his younger years, Bob was a cliff diver, in Scranton and passed on his love of diving and the water to all his children. He was an avid bowler, competing in leagues for years. Bob was always active, exercising daily, and playing golf and tennis. He and Shirley enjoyed many years of square dancing in their early retirement.  Recently, Bob discovered bocce ball and immediately joined a league for residents of Charlestown.  He enjoyed quieter activities too, like reading and playing bridge.

Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley A. O’Hara; his five children and their spouses, Robert B. and Lisa (Beegle) O’Hara, Jr., Mary Beth (O’Hara) and John Saboe, Suzanne (O’Hara) Hawkins, Kathleen (O’Hara) Hunt, and Sharon (O’Hara) and Brian Gorgei; his nine grandchildren and their spouses, Michael Hawkins and fiancée Rebecca Ways; David and Elena (Owre) Dudek; Sarah Hawkins; Kelly Dudek and fiancée Patrick Lyon; Patrick Hunt; Emily Hunt; Ryan Hunt; Caitlin Gorgei and Kelsey Gorgei.

A Memorial mass will be held at Our Lady of the Angels in Catonsville, Maryland on Friday, September 15, 2017, at 10:00AM. Military funeral honors at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, Maryland will be held Monday, September 18, 2017, at 10:45AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Make a Wish Foundation, midatlantic.wish.org or the Benevolent Fund of Charlestown, https://ccicharlestown.org/giving/benevolent-care.