Robert W. DeVore

“I wasn’t born in Pittsburg (NH), but I got here as fast as I could.”

Robert W. DeVore, 100, of Manchester, NH passed away peacefully on November 19, 2023.

Bob had an amazing positive can-do outlook on life which he and Milly passed to their daughters and grandkids – you can do anything, if you want to do it, so give it your best.  He was always willing to lend a hand to family, friends, neighbors, sometimes strangers if they needed help.  

Robert Wilbur DeVore was born in Danville, Illinois, on May 31, 1923, to Charles and Mary (Andrews) DeVore where he attended local schools.  He was inducted into the Army, serving in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.

After the war ended, Bob arrived at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, where he met the Love of his life, WAC Emilia Kowalewski of Manchester, NH.  They were married at Holy Trinity Church in Manchester where they spent most of the 77 years of their marriage. They raised two daughters and had many good times, whether it was summer camping in a tent or a military bus that Bob and the family converted into a camper, or doing home projects like painting the exterior of the house. 

He worked as a roofer and then for Corenco Company for 34 years, eventually as Superintendent in the plant and then on the road doing Customer Sales & Support. 

Bob belongs to the Masonic Lodge in Manchester and served as Worshipful Master of Washington Lodge No 61 F & AM, later serving as Grand Sword Bearer for Ralph Sloan during his term as Worshipful Grand Master of Grand Lodge of NH. 

After retiring, he traveled to Alaska by truck and camper with his best friend, Frank Bromley.  They traveled west by the Trans Canadian Highway, returning through the Lower 48.  A few years later, Bob and Milly made the same trip. 

Bob is survived by his wife Emilia (Kowalewski) DeVore; two daughters, Carolyn Jon (Leonard) Dickson and Cynthia Ann (Philip) Hebert; two grandchildren, William and Stephanie Hebert, and a very special nephew Stan Kowalewski. 

Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 25^th from 9:30am-10:30am at The Phaneuf Funeral Home & Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street in Manchester. A funeral mass will be held at 11am at Holy Trinity Cathedral, 166 Pearl Street. Manchester. Burial to follow in Holy Trinity Cemetery in Goffstown. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend.