Robert "Bob" McCoy

Robert “Bob” McCoy passed away peacefully on August 23, 2023, at United Methodist Communities in Collingswood, NJ, at the age of 99. Born in York, PA, on Saint Patrick’s Day 1924, he graduated from William Penn High School in York in 1942 and joined the US Army Air Corps in July of that year. He served in the 326th Ferrying Squadron 1st Transport Group as an airplane mechanic and aerial engineer in England, France, and Germany, until December 1945. After the war, he earned a BA in History with a music minor from Lebanon Valley College. While interviewing for a history teaching position in Calvert County, MD, he was asked to start a music program for the school instead. During his seven years teaching in Maryland, Bob met his wife, Alice (nee Evans). In 1956, they moved to Alice’s hometown, Moorestown, NJ, where he taught music in Moorestown Public Schools for 30 years, retiring in 1986. Over those years, among other things, Bob also served as the music director at the Moorestown Lutheran Church, ran a bicycle repair business with his sons, served as Executive Director at the Camden School of Musical Arts, was missions chairman at First United Methodist Church, Moorestown, and taught auto mechanics at Moorestown HS night school. In his retirement, Bob and Alice enjoyed traveling with their Airstream trailer and spending time at the Jersey Shore Haven Campground, where he was an active leader and volunteer. Most will continue to remember Bob for his leadership in music. After his retirement from public school teaching, he formed the Moorestown Community Band (AKA Bob’s Bandits), in 1991, with many former students happily re-joining him in making music together. He stepped down from conducting the band in 2013, but continued to play clarinet in the ensemble until 2016. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Alice; his sister, Phyllis Kimmons; and his son, Mark (Rita). He is survived by his brother, Donald McCoy; his children Beverly Michaels (Geoffrey), Paul (Jennifer), and David (Rebecca); ten grandchildren, Julia Michaels-Koenig (Scott), Annika Michaels, Carolyn Michaels, Matthew McCoy, Andrew McCoy (Thais), Rebecca Michael (Daniel), Caroline McCoy, Maryjo Oseguera (Ivis), Melanie McCoy, and Allison McCoy; and six great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Thursday August 31 at 10am, at Masonville United Methodist Church, 200 Masonville Road Mount Laurel, NJ 08054. Private Interment Brigadier General Willam C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Masonville United Methodist Church, Mt Laurel, NJ, in Bob’s memory.