Robert Brian Gillan

Robert Brian Gillan, of Barton, N.Y., entered this world on June 19, 1936, in Waverly, N.Y., and left on April 12, 2019, at the age of 82. 

Bob is survived by his loving and caring wife of 60 years Susan, his children and their spouses Robert (Barb) Gillan, Annette (Cal) Tubbs, Brian (Sophia) Gillan, and Amy (Jim) Walsh. 

He is also survived by his grandchildren Bret (Carly) Gillan, Captain Brad (Elise) Gillan, Staff Sergeant (Ret) John Collins, Staff Sergeant Robert (Amy) Collins, Anna (Konstantin) Nuksha, Chadwick Gillan, Lydia Gillan, Eric (Elizabeth) Myers, Julia Walsh, and Christopher Walsh, his great grandchildren Tyler Collins and June Myers, his sister Joan Evans, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Janet and Erik Lundberg, numerous nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog Dani.

Bob was predeceased by his parents Carol and Robert Gillan and his granddaughter Erika Myers.

Bob was a 1954 graduate of Waverly Senior High School.  He entered the Army in 1956, and was stationed in Orleans, France where he worked in the Signal Corps. He was also an award-winning shooter on the pistol team. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1958, Bob began his 38 years in law enforcement at the Waverly Police Department where he was a patrolman from 1959 to 1967 and a Sergeant from 1967 to 1973.  He simultaneously furthered his education at Elmira College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. In 1973, Bob moved into another branch of law enforcement with the New York State Department of Conservation as a Conservation Officer where he spent countless hours in the woods, fields, and water ways of Region 7 and Region 9.  Bob retired from the DEC in 1997 as a Lieutenant.  After retirement, Bob worked for 10 years at Cornell University teaching firearms while concurrently working for the Tioga County Sherriff’s Department in the Civil Department. Bob  will  be remembered as a fair man whose heart was with nature and with the beautiful creatures that God created.

The family will have a private service at a later date.

The Memorial Donations may be made to Stray Haven, 194 Shepard Road, Waverly, NY. 14892 or The Lourdes Hospice Foundation, 169 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY. 13905.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thomas Cremation and Funeral Service,1297 Elmira St., Sayre,Pa.

Those  wishing to leave a sympathy message for Bob’s family may do so at thomascremationfuneralservice.com

“Under a wide and starry sky,

Scatter my ashes

And let me lie.

For glad I lived,

With a will.

Home is the fisherman,

Home from the sea.

Home is the hunter,

Home from the hill.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

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