Robert D. Bloom

POLAND-Services will be held Saturday, June 2 at 11 a.m. at Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland for Robert Donald Bloom, 91, who passed away at home on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.

Robert was born May 24, 1926 in Scranton, Pennsylvania to George Bloom and Virginia Cooper Bloom. He was a 1943 graduate of Scranton Technical High School. After graduation, he went to work as a mailer for International Correspondence Schools (ICS) in Scranton.

In 1944, Robert enlisted in the United States Navy serving in the Pacific Theater on board the destroyers, the USS Wadleigh 00689 and the USS Henderson 00785. He participated in the battles of Okinawa and was in Tokyo Harbor for the signing of the official surrender accords with Japan.

Returning to Scranton, Robert resumed work at the ICS. There he met and fell in love with Joyce A. Rowlands. They were married Oct 6, 1950 in Scranton. Robert and Joyce then moved to Youngstown, where he was working as a mailer for the Youngstown Vindicator. He served many terms as president and treasurer of the International Typographical Union for the mailers of the Vindicator. Robert also worked as the foreman of the mailroom. In all, Robert worked for the Vindicator for 50 years.

Robert was a member of Poland United Methodist Church and the Saxon Club.

He leaves his wife, of nearly 68 years, Joyce, his son, Kristian Robert (Sara Ogan) Bloom of Columbia, Missouri and his daughter, Cynthia Bloom (Peter) DeVito of Poland. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Patrick Robert (Sarah Canon) Bloom of Clovis, New Mexico, Michael James Bloom of Columbia, Missouri, Connor Flynn (Sasha Rowles) Bloom of Abilene, Texas, Cooper Brendan (Laurel Critchfield) Bloom of Huntsville, Alabama, Beatrice Bloom (Nicholas) Olesko of Ithaca, New York, Peter Michael DeVito, Jr. of Poland, and Robert George DeVito of Poland, a great granddaughter Amelia Bloom Olesko of Ithaca, New York and one nephew and two nieces.

Preceding him in death were his sister, Virginia Bloom White and his brother Kenneth Bloom.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday from 10-10:45 a.m at the funeral home, prior to the service. Following the service, committal services with military honors will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery.

The family respectfully suggests material tributes could take the form of contributions to Poland United Methodist Church.

Please visit www.beckerobits.com to send condolences.