Robert Joseph Rawley, born in Orange, N.J., on Nov. 3, 1932, the second son of William and Mary Rawley’s four children, died peacefully at Doylestown Hospital’s Hospice Center, on Oct. 12, 2023, a few weeks before his 91st birthday.
He is survived by his wife Madeline, his daughter, also named Madeline, and her son Declan, and his son Rob, Rob’s wife Shelley, and their children Lena and Benner, as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins. His older brother William, younger sister Anne and his younger brother Joe preceded him in death.
Robert, called Bob by his family and many friends, joined the Navy at 18 because he was eager to see the World. The Navy, however, had other plans for him and sent him to school for electronics, giving him a full scholarship to the Naval Academy or a college of his choice. Hired by IBM, Bob began his career by going to Saudi Arabia to set up and manage computers at the oil refineries there. Next, IBM sent him to do the same in Iran. Other assignments in Paris, New York, and California followed. His last assignment brought him back to New York. His wife and children adjusted well to all these career moves. When he asked his children years later if he had hurt them with all these family moves, they said that each move had enriched their lives in many ways.
After retiring from IBM, Bob bought a home in Doylestown, Pa. He and his wife decided to move to Wesley Enhanced Living when the house became too much work as they aged, where they lived together for eight good years before his health deteriorated, at which time he entered hospice and died a peaceful death.
Having served in the Navy, he had decided beforehand to be buried in Washington Crossing’s military cemetery.
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