Jun 29, 2018

Robert C. “Bob” Punola, 85, of Imperial, formerly of Primrose, left us Thursday, June 28, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.

Bob was born January 30, 1933, in Primrose, a son of John and Anna Mlinac Punola.

He was a graduate of Hickory High School.

He married the love of his life, Mary Ann Toulouse, in 1959.

Bob was retired from the state Department of Transportation and had also worked at Consolidation Coal, Bethlehem Steel and Taylor Forge. He also served as the tax collector for Mt. Pleasant Township for 29 years.

Bob was a lifelong member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, McDonald, where he was a member of the finance council.

In his younger days, Bob was well known as a left-handed pitcher in the Greater Pittsburgh Baseball League, including pitching at Forbes Field in a try-out for the Pirates. In his later years, Bob was known as a fearless competitor on the golf course, including winning the Wellsville (N.Y.) Country Club member-guest five times.

In addition to his wife Mary Ann, Bob is survived by a sister, Patricia (the late Jerome) Funaro of Hankey Farms; brother John (Nancy) Punola of Madison, N.J.; two children, David (Diane) Punola of Fruitport, Mich., and Linda (Scott) McCracken of Coraopolis; three granddaughters, Jennifer Punola of Altamonte Springs, Fla., Emily Punola of Muskegon, Mich., and Olivia McCracken of Coraopolis; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A sister, Barbara Olson, preceded him in death.

Bob’s life will be honored from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in Thomas-Little Funeral Home, 314 West Lincoln Avenue, McDonald. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon Monday, July 2, in St. Alphonsus Church, 219 West Lincoln Avenue, McDonald, with Father Ben Vaghetto as celebrant. Burial will be in Robinson Run Cemetery, McDonald.

The family suggests donations to Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).