Maury Robb, active church member

Maury Robb, 97, a longtime Lewes and Milton resident, passed away Thursday, July 27, 2023.

He was born Nov. 20, 1925, into poverty. His father, William Robb, had passed away three months earlier. His mother, Loretta Picard, was uneducated, unemployed and left to raise her 3-year-old daughter, Mary Jane, as well as her unborn child.

At the age of 17, Maury enlisted in the Navy, driven by patriotism as well as the financial security it provided his mother. He was sent to Northern Ireland as a pharmacist mate and would care for the wounded soldiers from across Europe. He served for just over two years, until the end of World War II, honorably discharged as a seaman second class.

He worked in the world of lithography, for the Navy’s hydrographic office, Lanman Company, and Colorgraphics until his retirement in 1990.

In 1960, Maury’s life would change when he met the love of his life, Irene Soponis. They were married Sept. 22, 1962, in Washington, D.C. In 1963, they decided to build a home in a new golf course community called Tantallon, in Fort Washington, Md. In September 1965, they adopted a son, Michael, and then had Chris in 1968. Tantallon proved to be a wonderful find and was a great place for the family.

In 1993, they retired to Lewes, built a home and enjoyed retirement living. Maury enjoyed his golf, playing until the age of 96, shooting his age or better many times. He became active at St. Jude Catholic Church, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Secular Franciscan Order and Teams of Our Lady. In 2008, they built a home in Paynter’s Mill outside Milton.

A private burial service was held Aug. 19 in Lewes for a wonderful husband (survived by his wife of 61 years, Irene), father (survived by son Chris and his wife Della), grandfather (survived by Candice, Lauren, Phoebe and Simone), great-grandfather to six, and friend to many.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association via the tribute page for Maurice Robb, tinyurl.com/25ccxjvf.