Mr. Robert S. (Bob) Sacks 82, of Winston-Salem, NC, died July 18, 2011 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home.
Bob was born in Pottsville, PA, son of Stanley Robert Sacks and Dorothy Isabel Frye Sacks on February 24, 1929. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marianne Dorothy Sacks Lind.
Bob grew up in Newport, DE attending Krebs School and graduating from Conrad High School.He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 73 attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He was also an Explorer Scout Ranger and enjoyed his time working as a counselor at Camp Rodney. Bob won a drama contest at the University of Delaware and spent a summer with John Carradine for his summer stock season.He was inducted into the US Army in 1950, serving two years in Germany in the Signal Corps. After he was discharged he returned to his job at Commercial Credit. He married the love of his life Mary Jean Manlove Sacks of Milford in 1954. After the sudden death of his father, Bob took over Parklynn Pharmacy in Elsmere, DE in 1955.Bob and his business partner built that one store into a seven store chain, they also built Midway Professional Centre and Midway Shopping Center. Ever the entrepreneus, Bob moved his faily to upstate New York in 1971 where he owned and operated The Alpine Resort Hotel, located just south of Kingston near the Catskill Mountains. Bob returned to Delaware in 1979 and worked for United Marine of Staten Island, NY while residing in his boyhood until moving to Winston-Salem, NC in 2005. He loved many types of music, especially "Dixie-Land Jazz". He played a stand up bass fiddle in numerous bands and combos from his high school years onward. Bob's interests included horseback riding, boating and photography.Bob was a Life Member of Elsmere Fire Company and was honored by the Delaware State Legislature for 50 years of service in 2004. Bob served as President of the New Castle County Fire Association in 1962/63. Bob was a member of the Armstrong Lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He served as Scribe of the lodge for a number of years. He was a charter member of the Nur-Temple Shrine Club. He was also a Charter member of the Wilmington West Rotary Club in 1956, serving as Club President in the 1961/62 Rotary Rear. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and served the club in numerous capacities afterward, being recognized with a multitude of awards and accolades. He edited the weekly bulletin for over fifteen years. Bob was also a member of the VFW and the American Legion.Bob was always a man of service, leading by example. In his latter years he also became a man of faith. He was a member of Mount Lebanon United Methodist Church of Wilmington.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Jean Sacks of the home; his daughter, Terry Lynn Sacks Brumbalow and her husband Jack Brumbalow of Rossville, GA; his son, Stanley Roberts Sacks and his wife Dr. Denise Robertson Sacks of oak Ridge, NC; his son, James Everett Sacks and his wife Mary Katherine Sacks of Winston-Salem, NC; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at Gracelawn Chapel at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2200 N. Dupont Hwy., New Castle, DE, on Wednesday, August 3rd at 11 am. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening August 2nd from 6-8 pm, at NICHOLS-GILMORE FUNERAL HOME, 212 E. Justis St., Newport, DE where Masonic services will be held at 7:30 pm.
The family has asked in lieu of flowers donations be made to one of the following; Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 2713; or The Rotary Foundation, of Rotary International, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693; Shriner's Children's Hospital, 355 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140-4131.
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