In Memory Of
Robert Emile Dupont
1924
2018
Robert Emile Dupont
August 6, 1924 — November 15, 2018
Robert "Bob" Emile DuPont, age 94, of Orlando, Florida passed away peacefully Thursday morning, November 15, 2018 surrounded by his children following a brief illness.
Born August 6, 1924 in Manchester, New Hampshire, Robert was the son of Edmund Joseph DuPont and Leda DuPont. He had three brothers and one sister. Early in his childhood, Robert's family moved to Hammonton, New Jersey where his father worked as a shoe salesman in a local department store and his mother ran a beauty salon in the family home.
During World War II, Robert requested to graduate early from high school and—on April 2, 1943—enlisted as a Seaman in the US Navy. On July 22, 1943, he joined the crew of the USS Canfield (DE-262), an Evarts-class destroyer charged with protecting convoys and other ships in the Pacific Theatre from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. During his time on the Canfield, Robert served as an anti-aircraft gunner, participating in four battles across the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. In September 1945, Robert arrived in Tokyo following the bombing of Hiroshima and briefly supported the American Occupation of Japan before sailing to San Francisco and returning home to civilian life in Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia, Robert met Dorothy Hoopes and they were married from 1950 until 1979. They moved to Orlando, Florida in 1958 where Robert took a job as a machinist with Martin-Marietta. Together, they raised three daughters and two sons. Robert was involved extensively in the community, coaching his children's sports teams and contributing as an active member of the VFW and Veterans Honor Guard. Robert later married Mary Mills. In their retirement, Robert and Mary enjoyed extensive road trips throughout the U.S. visiting family and friends throughout the country.
Robert is survived by his sister Armand Rennehan and brothers Richard DuPont and Walter DuPont; daughters Deborah Bush, Cindy Turek and her husband Paul Turek, Ellen Sullivan and her husband Joseph Sullivan; sons Robert DuPont and his wife Ruth DuPont, Allen DuPont and his wife Lisa DuPont; stepson James Mills and his wife Kathy Mills; grandchildren Travis Bush, Ryan Forgy, Justin Forgy, Erica DuPont, Evan DuPont, Ethan DuPont, Kyle DuPont and his wife Akiko DuPont, Tyler Burcher-DuPont and his husband T. Aulden Burcher-DuPont, Alex DuPont, Samantha Mills, and Matthew Mills; and great-grandson Colton DuPont. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary DuPont, his brother George DuPont, and his son-in-law Gerald Bush.
A memorial service for Robert will be held at St. James Cathedral Orlando 215 North Orange Ave. at 10 am on Monday, November 26, 2018. Robert will be laid to rest at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery 5525 US-1 – Mims Fla. 32754 at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Honor Flight for War Veterans - https://www.honorflight.org
Born August 6, 1924 in Manchester, New Hampshire, Robert was the son of Edmund Joseph DuPont and Leda DuPont. He had three brothers and one sister. Early in his childhood, Robert's family moved to Hammonton, New Jersey where his father worked as a shoe salesman in a local department store and his mother ran a beauty salon in the family home.
During World War II, Robert requested to graduate early from high school and—on April 2, 1943—enlisted as a Seaman in the US Navy. On July 22, 1943, he joined the crew of the USS Canfield (DE-262), an Evarts-class destroyer charged with protecting convoys and other ships in the Pacific Theatre from Japanese submarines and fighter aircraft. During his time on the Canfield, Robert served as an anti-aircraft gunner, participating in four battles across the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, the Philippines, and Iwo Jima. In September 1945, Robert arrived in Tokyo following the bombing of Hiroshima and briefly supported the American Occupation of Japan before sailing to San Francisco and returning home to civilian life in Philadelphia.
In Philadelphia, Robert met Dorothy Hoopes and they were married from 1950 until 1979. They moved to Orlando, Florida in 1958 where Robert took a job as a machinist with Martin-Marietta. Together, they raised three daughters and two sons. Robert was involved extensively in the community, coaching his children's sports teams and contributing as an active member of the VFW and Veterans Honor Guard. Robert later married Mary Mills. In their retirement, Robert and Mary enjoyed extensive road trips throughout the U.S. visiting family and friends throughout the country.
Robert is survived by his sister Armand Rennehan and brothers Richard DuPont and Walter DuPont; daughters Deborah Bush, Cindy Turek and her husband Paul Turek, Ellen Sullivan and her husband Joseph Sullivan; sons Robert DuPont and his wife Ruth DuPont, Allen DuPont and his wife Lisa DuPont; stepson James Mills and his wife Kathy Mills; grandchildren Travis Bush, Ryan Forgy, Justin Forgy, Erica DuPont, Evan DuPont, Ethan DuPont, Kyle DuPont and his wife Akiko DuPont, Tyler Burcher-DuPont and his husband T. Aulden Burcher-DuPont, Alex DuPont, Samantha Mills, and Matthew Mills; and great-grandson Colton DuPont. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary DuPont, his brother George DuPont, and his son-in-law Gerald Bush.
A memorial service for Robert will be held at St. James Cathedral Orlando 215 North Orange Ave. at 10 am on Monday, November 26, 2018. Robert will be laid to rest at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery 5525 US-1 – Mims Fla. 32754 at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Honor Flight for War Veterans - https://www.honorflight.org
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