Robert P. Shillaber

Robert Partington Shillaber, 92, a long-time resident of Wickford, RI, passed away peacefully on
Friday, June 6, 2025.
Born February 24, 1933, in Newburyport, MA, Robert was the loving husband of 54 years to the
late Mary Paul Shillaber and the son of the late Eleanor Smith Shillaber and John James
Shillaber of Concord, NH.
With a decorated Navy career, serving from 1951-1971 as a GCA Air Traffic Controlman, he
traveled throughout the Pacific, was stationed in West Malling, England – where he met his
future wife, Mary – and lived with his young family in Morocco.
A graduate of Johnson and Wales University, Robert was a former Superintendent for the
Episcopal Conference Center in Pascoag, RI, a volunteer fireman, an ordained Lay Reader, a
member of the Vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, a custodian in the North Kingstown School
Department, and a Fleet Reserve Association member.
He was “Bobby” to his friends and was full of kindness and always quick with a joke or warm
smile. He loved his wife and family deeply and was a loyal Red Sox fan. A lover of lobster bakes
and pie of any kind, Bobby received lifelong joy from his many pets and tending to his jewel box
of a garden.
Robert leaves his loving son, Stuart Partington Shillaber and his wife, Kristina Peterson of Block
Island.
His Requiem Eucharist will be held Thursday, June 12 at 11:30 AM at St. Paul's Episcopal
Church, 55 Main Street, Wickford. Burial to follow in RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.
Relatives and friends are asked to call on Wednesday, June 11 from 5-7 PM at THE CRANSTON-
MURPHY FUNERAL HOME of WICKFORD, 140 West Main Street, Wickford, North Kingstown.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Robert’s memory may be made to the Pet Refuge/North Kingstown-
Exeter Animal Protection League, P.O. Box 83, North Kingstown, RI 02852. For online messages
of condolence, kindly visit www.murphyfuneralhomes.org

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert P. Shillaber, please visit our floral store.