Robert (Bob) Hetherington, 94, of Moon Township, PA, passed away at 5:28 AM at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh on September 29, 2017.

He leaves a wife of 43 years, Marie Jane (Godin) Hetherington; a son Robert Andrew Hetherington; his daughter Susan Jean  Hetherington Changnon; his son Richard Craig Hetherington and his wife Joan Smith Hetherington; his step-daughter Nancy (Leslie) Geisler and her husband Gary Geisler; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Born on May 25, 1923 in Gloucester City, New Jersey, he was the son of Andrew Hetherington of Belfast, Ireland, and Ella (Van Hest) Hetherington. Bob moved to Coraopolis, PA in the 1930’s as a boy with his parents and two sisters Elinore and Andrea when his father took at job as foreman at Dravo on Neville Island. Bob survived scarlet fever as a child, worked as a “soda jerk” at Cutts’ Drug Store in his teens, and graduated from Coraopolis High School in 1942.

In February 1943, Bob enlisted in the US Army and served in World War II. After training in the US, England and Ireland, he hit the beach on D-Day. He served in the 5th Infantry Division of General George Patton’s 3rd Army, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge and the Liberation of Paris in 1944. When taken prisoner by the Germans for 20 minutes, he narrowly escaped death only to be saved by the 101st US Army Airborne Division. For his military service, Bob received 3 Bronze Stars and a Silver Star.

After the war, Bob returned home to his family and married his high-school sweetheart, Wilma Jean (Billie) Nesbit on April 3, 1946.

1946, and attended college on the GI Bill. First he went to Bethany College in West Virginia and later to Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, While there he worked at Cahen’s Clothing Store, started a family, built his own home on Park Drive, and graduated with an Accounting degree.

Bob worked at Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel Company (PDM) on Neville Island for all of his professional career, first as Assistant to the President, then as an accountant, and later as the Assistant Traffic and Transportation Manager.

In the1960’s PDM built The St. Louis Arch and Bob shipped fabricated steel to build the World Trade Centers in New York City in the 1970’s. He belonged to and served as Treasurer for the Traffic and Transportation Association of Pittsburgh.

Following the passing of his wife Billie in 1971, Bob met and married Marie in 1974. They shared many years together traveling, dancing, bowling, playing the organ, and loving their families.

Bob belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons, Coraopolis Lodge No. 674, The Elks, and The VFW.

He was a faithful and active church member for over 80 years at Mt. Calvary United Presbyterian Church, now called The Presbyterian Church of Coraopolis, where he served several terms as deacon and elder.

Bob had a passion for building things and he built his own house in 1955. He loved dogs, his cars, music, sports – playing baseball and basketball. He enjoyed playing pool and ping pong, played acoustic guitar in his younger years and a Lowry Organ  throughout his retirement years. He loved to tell a good story – especially his stories from WWII. Mostly, he was a devoted family man, a good husband and father, who loved his family deeply. He will be missed.

Visitation will be on Monday, October 2, 2017 at Copeland Funeral Home, 867 Fifth Avenue, Coraopolis, PA, 15108 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM and 6:00 - 8:00 PM, with a Masonic Ceremony at 7:30 PM. A funeral service will be on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, at 10:00 AM at the Presbyterian Church of Coraopolis, 1201 5th Avenue (Everyone meet at Church) with interment at the Coraopolis Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the Church.

Flowers will be accepted and/or donations may be made to The Presbyterian Church of Coraopolis.

 Service Information