WESTFIELD: Robert Paul Finney passed on peacefully at home on November 6, 2014 at the age of 90. He was born February 15, 1924 in Westbrook, Maine, the son of Irvin H. Finney and Cecelia (Lambert) Finney. Educated in the Westbrook Public Schools, he then served in the U. S. Army from February 1943 until March 1945. In 1947 he enrolled in the School of Engineering at the University of Maine in Orono. In that same year he volunteered to help fight the devastating Bar Harbor fire. While in college, he was a member of the Order of the Temple (Masonic group). Bob met Ruth Preble, a University of Maine student in her senior year, at a college dance. They married on August 28,1948. Bob received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1950. Later that year the couple moved to Walpole, Mass. where Robert worked as a project engineer for Bird & Son, Co. from 1950-1955. Then he joined St. Regis Paper Co. in Pepperell, MA as their project-plant engineer from 1955-1966. He became a licensed professional engineer. Bob participated in TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry), serving as chairman of the Mechanical Engineering Committee. He also served as the chairman of the Plant Engineers Association of Massachusetts. When he joined Strathmore Paper Co. in 1966 as an engineering manager, his family moved to Westfield, MA. In 1986, he became the chief engineer at Sinclair Corporation, and retired in 1989. Bob enjoyed ballroom dancing, photography, golf, complex puzzles, Swing Era music, woodworking, and Necco wafers. He was active in the Masons for over 60 years, being a member of the Mt. Moriah Lodge in Westfield. He enjoyed a busy schedule as a Melha Shrine clown for 27 years. He was a member of the First Congregational Church in Westfield since 1967, serving as deacon, usher and parent Boy Scout leader in the church Troop 110 when his son Paul became an Eagle Scout. Robert leaves his wife Ruth and four children: Patricia Finney and her spouse Michael St. John of Baraboo, Wisconsin; Carol Gabranski and her spouse John of Williamsburg, MA, Deborah Finney and her partner Brian Colton of N. Granby, CT and Paul Finney and his spouse Susan (Versailles) Finney of Taunton, MA. Robert is the grandfather of Emily and Peter Gabranski and Trevor and Rachel Finney. He is also survived by his sister Beverly (Finney) Aker of Lexington, MA, a niece and a nephew. The Finney family wishes to thank the Noble Hospital VNA Hospice health care professionals for their skillful and kind care. Visiting hours for Bob will be held on Tuesday from 5-7 PM at the Firtion Adams Funeral Home, 76 Broad Street, Westfield. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday at 10AM in First Congregational Church, Broad St. Westfield. Burial will be on Thursday at 1 PM in Woodlawn Cemetery, Westbrook, Maine. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children at 516 Carew Street in Springfield, MA 01104. www.firtionadams.com
