Obituary of Robert "Bob" Strong Gourley

Robert S. Gourley 1930 - 2023 Robert (Bob) Strong Gourley, age 93, of Erie, died peacefully on Monday, September 11, 2023 after a brief illness. Born on March 19, 1930, in Erie, the son of the late Ernest E. Gourley and Clara Strong Gourley. Bob graduated from Strong Vincent High School in the June class of 1948. He attended Penn State, Allegheny College, and graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy from the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Ohio in September, 1952. He served his country during the Korean War as a staff physical therapist at the Valley Forge Army Hospital located in Phoenixville, Pa. Upon his discharge, he worked as a physical therapist for the Chronic Disease Research Institute in Buffalo, N.Y. After returning to Erie, he worked for a number of years as a professional pharmaceutical salesman for Schering Corporation in the Erie area. He retired from the American Sterilizer in 1992 with 24 plus years of service. Both of his great-great grandparents immigrated to the USA in the 1840’s from Ireland and he was very proud of his Irish heritage, although he did not discuss it much. Bob loved his family, traveling, his computer, and especially ballroom dancing with his wife Valerie, whom he called his Ginger Rogers. She was his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Valerie Sigmond Gourley, who he married on March 31, 1951, three sons; Patrick Gourley and his wife Colleen, Scott Gourley and his wife Kathi, both of Erie, and Keith Gourley and his late wife, Kathryn of Chatham, Massachusetts, and four grandchildren, Aaron who he said was always joyful and three granddaughters, Meghan, Meredith, and Katelyn Gourley. He loved and was very proud of these girls, who he said had it all, brains, beauty, and personality. He was also blessed with two great-grandchildren, Eli and Arthur. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Friday, September 15, 2023 from 5 pm until time of the Funeral Service there at 7:15 pm. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.