Obituary of James Robert “Bob” Hoe

Bob Hoe, 83, of Melbourne, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, April 17, 2017. He was born in Blairsville, PA, July 20, 1933, to the late Alta V. Waite Hoe and Clinton J. Hoe. Bob graduated from Blairsville High School in 1951. He took on the responsibility of helping to support his family, while attending school, when his father hurt his back and was unable to work for six years. If he was not in school or working, you could always find him on a baseball field. Bob joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 during the Korean Conflict. From 1952 to 1956, he played baseball for the Navy and liked to comment that in his four years of service that he never set foot on a ship, only on a diamond. Upon his honorable discharge, Bob had a tryout with the New York Giants; however, he suffered an injury to his shoulder and was unable to attend the tryout. Never to miss an opportunity to play baseball, Bob found a baseball uniform that looked similar to an AAA Baseball team and walked onto their field as if he was supposed to be there. After traveling with them for a few weeks and helping them win many games, the Coach finally asked who he was. Bob was always there to share unbelievable, yet true, stories like that. He always made you laugh and smile. He graduated from Pittsburgh Aeronautical Institute as an Aircraft Mechanic in 1960 and began working for Eastern Airlines at the then Idlewild (JFK) Airport. Living in Brentwood, Long Island, they adopted a baby girl from Brooklyn, NY and moved to Hollywood, FL in 1967. Bob worked at Miami International Airport from 1967 to 1979. In 1969, he and his wife adopted a son from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He worked at the brand new Atlanta International Airport as the Lead Mechanic of 125 workers and would never ask one of his crew to do something that he was not willing to do himself. He retired in 1988 from Eastern Airlines from the Pittsburgh International Airport. After retiring at age 55, Bob moved back to Florida and immediately went back to work. He owned a Video Rental Store, sold mobile homes in Bradenton, FL, worked at the Space Coast, created and ran his stump grinding business and continued to give to others by taking care of the elderly through Seniors Helping Seniors. Wherever he went, he would meet people who knew him through baseball and remembered how hard he could hit and how fast he could run. It was always amazing how many people he knew and how he touched so many. During his years in Florida, Bob was very active in the Optimist Youth baseball program and coached many winning teams in all age groups. Throughout his life, he continued to play for many Men’s softball teams and was proud to say that he played with “The King and His Court”, a professional traveling fast pitch softball team. Although he was born and raised Methodist, Bob came to find a close relationship with Jesus thirty years ago when he joined First Baptist Church of Melbourne. You could always find a Bible in his car, listen to the word on his radio and feel the evidence of his love for Christ in everything he did. He was never one to preach to you or make you feel uncomfortable even though his belief was so strong in the Lord, however, he was always there to talk, listen or give whatever was needed of him to anyone. His empty seat in the church will be felt and missed by many. He is survived by his sister, Norma Jean Hoe Burkley of Blairsville, PA, his children, Debi Hoe Bruchwalski of Melbourne, FL (Bill Bruchwalski) and Scott Spicoli, Sr. of Vero Beach, FL, Dr. Mark Pinsky of Melbourne, FL, Max Pinsky and grandchildren, Danielle Elizabeth Bruchwalski and Scott Michael Spicoli, Jr. Friends of Bob Hoe are welcome to celebrate his life and rejoice in his salvation with the Lord on Saturday, April 22 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Ammen Family Funeral Home, 1001 Hickory Street in Melbourne. A service will follow at the Funeral Home by Pastor Dennis Smith of First Baptist Church. Since Bob was a U.S. Veteran, military honors will follow the service. On April 29 at 11:00am, Bob’s ashes will be received into the earth, as he requested, at the First Baptist Church Memorial Gardens. All are welcome to attend both services. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the First Baptist Church of Melbourne, 3301 Dairy Road, Melbourne, FL 32901 (321) 723-0561 www.fbcmel.org in Bob+óGé¼Gäós name.