Bobby Elwood
Who I Was.
Robert Elwood was born on 18th April 1932 in Colin, just outside Lisburn; the middle of three brothers and one of 8 siblings. In his early youth he; along with his sisters & brother; assisted his mother Agnes with the “War Effort” in the family greengrocers in Dunmurry village preparing food deliveries.
Bobby was educated locally in Stevenson’s School in Dunmurry and on leaving school at the age of 14 obtained qualifications as a motor mechanic; a much sought-after profession in a time when not every family owned a car. But eventually stemmed into the family business which by this time had several interests: A funeral furnishers, private taxi hire, filling station, mechanics garage & florists.
He met and fell in love with Daly at a dance on the Lisburn Road, they married in September 1960 and had four children, Mark, Rodger, Esther & Brian.
Bobby worked hard to provide for his family and made sure that he spent as much time as possible with them in spite of working 10 to 12 hour days, every day!
Family holidays were always to Portrush to their caravan and Bobby was particularly fond of motorcycle racing and loved the North West 200. This passion for motorbikes spurred Bobby into making annual trips with some friends each year to the Isle of Man TT Races.
But Bobby & Daly did eventually manage some foreign holidays together as their children grew older; in such places as Majorca, Corfu & Canada.
After Bobby’s father James died in 1987, he and his two brothers agreed to sell the family business which by this time had been concentrated into just one interest: a Funeral Directors. But Bobby stayed on to run the business as a locally named person for the new owners; assisted by his son Brian.
Tragedy struck the family in 1991 when Rodger was killed. So Bobby made the decision to semi-retire from the funeral business to spend more time with Daly. In 1992 they moved from their family home of over 30 years in Dunmurry to Lisburn.
They enjoyed their time together and Bobby was a loving & devoted husband & father and, by this stage, also a grandfather.
The “funeral director” in Bobby meant that he always drove; and took great care of; prestigious cars. No one would ever witness Bobby Elwood drive or be driven in a dirty vehicle!
In 2005 Bobby was proud when Brian became an independent funeral director again but was unable to assist in the new business due to ailing health caused by early-stage dementia.
By 2007 it had become evident that Bobby needed full-time specialist care so Daly had him placed into nursing care in a home in Lisburn were she would visit Bobby every-single-day!
And it was in the nursing home where Bobby eventually died peacefully with his wife & three remaining children by his side on 25th November 2010.
He will be much missed but forever remembered & respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing or loving him.