Mr. Claude Dearolf

May 31, 1930 - January 12, 2018

Claude Robert “Bob” Dearolf, age 87, of Beverly Hills, FL passed away Friday at Hospice House of Citrus County. Bob was born on May 31, 1930 in Norristown, PA to Claude and Sara (Kilpatrick) Dearolf. He is predeceased by his sister, Shirley J. Malloy, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 76. Bob graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics with a special in accounting from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. During his time there, he belonged to the Delta Pi Sigma fraternity. He also became a member of the Freemasons. On September 28, 1957 Bob married Marlene Collins after first meeting at First Baptist Church in Norristown and dating for two years. Believed to be fate, when Bob was nine years old, Marlene’s aunt, Maude Reese, called her Sunday school teacher, Sara McAfee, Bob’s aunt, to tell her about the death of Maude’s niece, Gretchen Collins, and how Gretchen had left a three-year-old girl, Marlene, behind. Bob listened to this phone call in the family kitchen. Neither knew that sixteen years later they would meet and fall in love and it wasn’t for many years afterwards that Bob figured out it was his wife, Marlene, that the phone call had been about so long ago. They celebrated their 60th anniversary this past September with a surprise celebration thrown by their family and friends. Bob and Marlene moved to Beverly Hills, FL in January of 1988 after his retirement from the United States Postal Service, where he worked for 30 years in Plymouth Meeting, PA before retiring as postmaster. He was also co-owner of Trappe Generator Service in Trappe, PA. Bob was an avid reader, enjoyed softball, tennis, hiking, music, and bridge. He was a huge Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan, even though every season he’d say he was done with them. Bob’s favorite book was the Bible and he read it every day. God was always a source of strength for him and he would turn to God in prayer for any situation. Bob instilled a Christ-loving and Christ-following spirit in his children and grandchildren. He always strived to be honest and attentive to other people’s viewpoints and to not hurt anyone by what he did or said. Bob was a very beloved husband, father, and Pop-pop who will be so greatly missed by all who knew him. The family would like to say thank you to the health care professionals, volunteers, and staff of Citrus Memorial Hospital and Hospice of Citrus County and the Nature Coast for the care and compassion given to our husband/father during his time there.Bob is survived by his wife, Marlene, daughters, Patricia Mallett, and her husband, Michael, of Seminole,FL, Gretchen Walsh, of Bradenton,FL and grandchildren, Gabrielle Versmessen and Richard L. Walsh, both of Bradenton, FL. A Celebration of Life for Bob will be held Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 1:30 PM at the Beverly Hills Chapel of Hooper Funeral Homes. The family will receive friends from12:30 PM until time of service at the chapel. Those who wish may make online condolences to the family at www.hooperfuneralhome.com. In addition the family requests in lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bob's name to the First Baptist Church of Norristown, 445 Burnside Avenue, Norristown, PA 19403.