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Robert E. Estes
Date published: 10/14/2006 Robert E. Estes Robert Earle "Bob" Estes, 79, of Fredericksburg, "The Music Man," passed away Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, after a brief battle with cancer. He was born Aug. 6, 1927, in Worcester, Mass. He spent much of his childhood in Massachusetts playing baseball and jitterbugging with his sister, Eve, at the USO at Cape Cod. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, having served on the USS Lake Champlain as a radar technician. Bob attended New England Conservatory of Music and graduated magna cum laude. He was president of his class and a member of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. He received his master's degree in science from Bridgeport University and taught music in Connecticut public schools for 35 years. He was a member of the Music Educators National Conference and conducted numerous semiprofessional musicals in New Canaan, Conn., for many years. After retiring, he founded and conducted the Durham Chorale in Durham, N.C., for 15 years, as well as directing music at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Durham. He was a successful, published composer. In 2002, Bob and Polly relocated to Falls Run in Stafford County, where they were very active in the community. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg and its choir. He was the founder and conductor of The Spotsylvanians and the Falls Run Singers. "The Music Man" loved life and lived it to the fullest. Beyond having shared his musical talents for many years, he was an avid golfer and swimmer and loved camping with his family. Bob and Polly traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, sharing their love and laughter for life along the way. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Pauline Estes of Falls Run; daughter Deborah Tripp and her husband, Kurt, son David Estes and his wife, Jackie, and daughter Dawn Medve and her husband, Chris; 10 grandchildren, Erika, Evan, Justin, Michael, Sarah, Matthew, Jeffrey, Nathan, Katie and Jack, who loved and adored their grandfather. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at the Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg, with the Rev. Allen H. Fisher Jr. officiating. A reception will follow in the Church House, 304 George St., Fredericksburg. Burial will be private in Quantico National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Trudy Clifton, 113 Tallpines Ave., Locust Grove, Va. 22508; or to Mary Washington Hospice, 5012 Southpoint Parkway, Fredericksburg, Va. 22407. Online guest book at covenant funeralservice.com. "The Music Man" said it best: "If I were to die today, I have lived the most wonderful life and had the most loving family anyone could ask for. Have a big party!"
Date published: 10/14/2006
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