On Tuesday, December 9, 2014, Robert Lawrence Capen passed away after fighting a brief illness.

Born in Newfane, New York on March 12, 1935, he was the son of Evelyn (Dence) and Kenneth Capen. Bob graduated from Newfane High School in 1952. He was an avid athlete starring in all sports with basketball being his favorite. Following graduation, he served in the Army Reserves and worked for Flint Brothers Hardware for several years before becoming a service man for Niagara Mohawk. He retired from Niagara Mohawk in 1994 after 30 plus years of service.

In 1963, he married Catherine “Totchie” Castle.  Together, they had four children, Robert, James, Mary Carol and Michael. Bob built his life around his family and community sharing many happy times at their cottage on the lake and home on McKee Road. Following the death of Totchie in 1999, Bob married Sheila Darling in 2003. They enjoyed 11 wonderful years together that were filled with traveling, friends and family. Throughout his life, Bob could be found whistling while doing a countless number of things he loved. Whether it was waterskiing on Lake Ontario, hunting, coaching his sons in sports, playing bridge, golfing, growing tomatoes, enjoying dinner with friends or being on his John Deere tractor, Bob enjoyed being with those he loved and entertaining in all in the places he called home.

Bob was predeceased by his parents Evelyn and Kenneth, his first wife Catherine “Totchie” Castle, his daughter Mary Carol, his son Robert, his sister Virginia (Hubert), sister-n-laws Margaret Castle, Patricia Po-Chedley (Robert), Dorothy Krauser (Richard), and Ceceila Buzyniski (Bernard). Bob will be dearly missed by his second wife Sheila (Darling), his sons James (Lysa), and Michael (Sara), his grandchildren Jack, Samuel, Mac and Thomas, his sister Eleanor (Miles), his twin sister Shirley, his aunt Barbara Capen, his brother-n-law James Castle (Norma Jean “Mudge” deceased), his sister-n-law Sue O’Connor (Robert), Lysa’s children Casey, Eric, and Brooke and a multitude of nieces, nephews and friends. He was well loved by the Darling family; Kelly (Fred), Deborah (Michael), Joel (Sheila), Wendy (Sam), Liza (David) and Timothy (Denielle) and will be missed by Sheila’s sixteen grandchildren.

Friends and family may call from 7-9 p.m. Thursday and from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at the Rutland-Corwin Funeral Home, Inc. 2670 Main Street, Newfane. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at noon on Saturday in St. Brendan’s of the Lake, Ewings Road, Newfane. Burial will be in St. Charles Cemetery in Newfane. In lieu of flowers and Bob’s love for the Town of Newfane and Lake Ontario, donations can be made to Olcott Beach Carasoul Park, P.O. Box 308, Olcott Beach, New York, 14126.

Please share your condolences online at www.rutland-corwin.com.