Nov. 26, 1941 ~ Dec. 31, 2024
Marlborough – Robert “Bob” H. LeDuc ,83, of Marlborough passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at Metrowest Medical Center in Framingham after a short illness. Bob was a dedicated husband and father. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Bob was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts to the late Harold Haynes and Theresa L (Fricault) LeDuc. He was adopted and raised by Sylvare G. LeDuc. Bob had an eventful youth and enjoyed sharing his many childhood stories with others.
Robert, or Pee Wee, as many knew him, was a Marlborough High School graduate, the class of 1960. After graduation, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy, on the USS Diamondcat as interior communications and served 4 years. He enjoyed and often wrote of and took pictures of his travels while serving.
Bob knew he had met his wife the first time he saw her. Bob and Marie (Hartley) LeDuc were married from April 16, 1966 until her passing in 2023 and they shared a committed love for over 57 years.
Bob learned welding in 1968 from a friend and later taught others to weld, including interested family, friends and employees. In 1969 he opened Bob’s Welding and ran a successful business until 1992 when he began pursuing woodworking and opened Wooden Toys ‘n Crafts. Bob enjoyed this business greatly and loved when he could include his own family in this work until he retired in 2017.
Robert had several other jobs including working as a milkman at Elmside Farms and various roles at Machinery Electrification, Raytheon, Clark Crystal, and Gregory Engineering.
He belonged to the Marlborough Lions Club, Marlboro Country Club and the Millwood Country Club Golf League and enjoyed traveling to golf with friends and family.
Bob received many honors including awards for running the Lion’s Club mint route and organizing golf tournaments, as well as being recognized for donating wood turnings to schools. He, along with his daughter, Lisa, helped organize the first Lion’s Club Father Daughter Dance. He was also featured in local newspapers for his toy business.
Bob had a lot of energy and liked to stay busy. Some of his hobbies included golf, fishing, archery, cribbage and time with family. He enjoyed working with his hands making wooden toys, but especially enjoyed when he could help someone out or just make someone smile. His favorite smiles and laughs though, came from his favorite little someones: his grandchildren, whom he adored.
Robert is survived by his daughters, Laurie Barnes and her husband Steven of Marlborough and Lisa LeDuc Creamer and her husband Charles of Rindge, NH, and his son Robert K LeDuc and his fiancée Melissa Dervishian of Worcester. He is also survived by his 6 grandchildren: Jeremy and Julia Barnes, Rilley and Alexis Creamer, and Kassidy and Kelsey LeDuc. Bob also leaves behind many extended family including nieces, nephews, cousins, and more.
He was predeceased by his siblings Paul R. LeDuc, Diann Chestnut, Sonny (Harold) Haynes, Richard Haynes, and Joyce LeDuc.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:30 in St. Matthias Church, 409 Hemenway Street, Marlborough, Massachusetts. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Wilson Street, Marlborough.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025 from 5-7 pm in the Short & Rowe Funeral Home, 95 West Main Street, Marlborough MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association.
