Bob and I first knew of each other in 10th grade and we would talk. By 11th grade we started dating and he would always remind me of how we walked all over the place during our junior class picnic. We were both very busy with sports but managed to be together more and more our senior year. I even gave up my sports uniforms for a prom gown and we were a real couple. Life was good. From that time on I knew we would be together forever. After graduating from high school I went off to Lock Haven to become a physical education teacher and Bob went off to Williamson Trade School to learn the masonry trade. The separation between us was so hard but we remained faithful and a couple. We were engaged over the summer of 1965 and life was good for us.
Bob finished his 3rd year trade school education and then joined the Navy Seabees for 2 years. The separation would be even harder. I was finishing my senior year at Lock Haven and he was in Rhode Island. Bob found out he was headed for Vietnam in June of 67. We both decided we wanted to get married before he left - so on March 18, 1967 we became Mr. and Mrs. Robert Reinmiller. Judy Neill was my maid of honor and Bob's twin brother was his best man. It was a perfect day and a perfect wedding held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hatboro. It was the happiest day of our lives. Bob went off to Vietnam and I graduated from Lock Haven and stayed at home in Willow Grove, working in Abington School District and saving money for our new house which we moved into in August of 1968. Bob worked for Miller & Son Paving as a mason for 48 years. I continued to work as a PE teacher for Abington Jr. High and then Klinger Jr. High for 4 years. I loved the work - Klinger kids were the best. My 9th grade class gave me a baby shower in my own house without me knowing a thing about it.
In 1971 our first daughter was born. Life was good. Terri would become an excellent competitive year round swimmer. She would go on to Penn State and now works for Rothman in the Physical Therapy department. Our second child Todd was born in 1973. He of course became one of the best wrestlers in the area and attended Moravian College on a wrestling scholarship. He is now a software design engineer for Cerner, the biggest medical records company in the US. Our 2nd daughter Tami was born in 1975. She was a multi-sports kid playing hockey, track and lacrosse and also got a scholarship to Widner University where she majored in nursing. She worked for Abington Hospital in the intensive care unit, then went on to work for Datascope Monitoring Company as an educator and now works for Agility in sales and education.
After the kids were born life became very hectic and we needed more money. Bob saw an article in Popular Mechanics Magazine on becoming a chimney sweep - which would be seasonal we thought. So he decided to become The Soot Slayer Chimney Sweep. It worked great with his masonry background. He picked up lots of repair work. He loved meeting new people and was quite a sight in his top hat and tails. People loved seeing him. So with his plan and my help we turned this into a 35 year business. He taught lots of helpers about responsibility and hard work. So our plan worked. He would make the money and I would do everything else.
In 2014 Bob suffered his first stroke - so no more driving or climbing on roofs. After Abington Hospital he went to Moss Rehab in Elkins Park and recovered pretty well. Things were okay. We even traveled to our favorite vacation destination in Vermont (Basin Harbor Club on Lake Champlain) with our kids and 3 grandkids and had a wonderful time. Then 2019 rolled around and Bob had a second stroke. This one was tougher and he rehabbed at Moss in Doylestown Hospital. He then came home with physical therapy in the house. Things were going okay with the use of a walker and a lot of help from me. But that's okay - we made it work and it was great to have him with me.
In May of 2020 (just when Covid arrived) Bob had trouble breathing - so off to Doylestown Hospital for a week. At the end of the week he was sent home on hospice because of a mass in his lung. At that point he was bed-bound. We had many good caregivers and Bob was always pleasant. I'm glad he was home - he got to watch all the cowboy movies he wanted and look out our back sliding doors and watch the grandkids swim, help blow out the candles for my 75th birthday on July 4 and hear the horns beep out front for his 76th birthday on September 28. I was to be inducted into the UMHS Sports Hall of Fame in October 2020, but because of Covid it was postponed until January 2021. On November 3, 2020 he passed away with myself and our kids by his side. I am just lost. He did so much for us - was the best husband ever and the love of my life. Every day I pray that I will see him again soon.
To all of UMHS friends - make every day count.
Love, Judy
