Robert Walpole

Robert F. Walpole, 73, passed away on Thursday, July 6, 2023. He was the loving husband of Janet (Guido) Walpole, with whom he shared 51 years of marriage.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, he was the son of the late Thomas and Catherine (Jones) Walpole.

Bob was a graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School. He served in the United States Navy during Vietnam as an Aviation Structural Mechanic.

Following his honorable discharge, Bob embarked on a life devoted to his family, hard work, and varied unique interests. His career spanned 35 years and included a lengthy stint as a Frito-Lay truck driver, a profession that made him popular among neighborhood kids who would gather around his truck as he threw bags of out-of-date Doritos and Fritos from the back of his truck creating a frenzied scramble for snacks. Following his career with Frito-Lay, Bob became an HVAC technician, and, at the time of his retirement, he was working in the supplements field for Res-Q.

As a Philadelphia native, naturally Bob was a lifelong Eagles fan. He was also a NASCAR enthusiast during the 90s going so far as to plan a vacation to a NASCAR infield, very reluctantly attended by his wife and children. Having inherited a green thumb from his father, Bob attended horticulture classes at Temple University and used his natural skills and education to create elaborate flower beds and a hearty vegetable garden. Comfortable with a grill and charcoal, Bob delivered up many a summer feast for his family members and as a culinary innovator he created a breakfast staple called “Bacon Dudes,” which saw bacon dredged in flour and then microwaved to a deep-fried fatty crisp. Bob really shined at the Jersey shore where he’d spend hours in the surf loading his kids, nieces, and nephews into rafts, expertly finding the perfect wave that would turn the rafts into inflatable torpedoes. He would watch proudly as his young family members mowed down swimmers as they rode the wave toward the shore.

But the area where Bob really shined was in his role as “Pop Pop.” In the eyes of his grandchildren, he could do no wrong. He indulged (and likely genetically contributed to) their penchant for dark humor and was always available to tell age-inappropriate jokes. He would film horror movies with Owen on his flip phone, make Play-Do sculptures with Bea, and was artist Luke’s greatest benefactor happily doling out singles and fives to purchase original drawings. Bob’s willingness to openly mock his grandchildren’s parents delighted the kids to no end.

In addition to his wife, Bob is survived by his three children: Kristin Gilbreath (Theodore) of Marietta, GA, Bob Walpole (Jill) of Schwenksville, PA, and Jessica Manning (Michael) of Bridgewater, NJ; five grandchildren, Lucy, Lauren, Owen, Luke and Beatrice; and a brother, Thomas Walpole (Rita) of Spring Hill, FL.

He is predeceased by a brother, Andrew Walpole.

A memorial service will be held at 1 PM on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at Mann-Slonaker Funeral Home, 222 Washington St., East Greenville, PA 18041. You may visit with the family starting at 12 PM. You may offer condolences and share memories by visiting www.mannslonakerfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. The family also encourages you to make memorial tributes in the form of donating blood to help alleviate the national blood shortage resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.