Lloyd Robert (Bob) Varney

 

Lloyd Robert (Bob) Varney, 74, husband of Mary (Veno) Varney, of Ipswich and Ft Meyers, Florida, passed away peacefully in his sleep December 27, 2009 in Joanne’s House, a Hope Hospice Care and Comfort facility, in Bonita Springs Florida. Diagnosed with cancer, it was only in recent days that he was not able to be at home.

The son of Frank and Harriet Varney, he married his Woburn High School sweetheart, enjoying a wonderful life together. They lived most of their years in Woburn and summered in Little Neck, Ipswich. In more recent years, they spent the winters in Ft Myers, Florida while continuing to come home for summers on the Neck with their family and lifetime friends and neighbors.

Bob Varney graduated from Tufts University in 1956 as an ensign USNR from Naval Aviation Primary Training. He went on to Naval Aviation Advanced Training and was assigned to Quam where he was promoted to LTJG USNR, where he was the youngest airplane commander in the Pacific. In a few years he transferred to NADU, Naval Air Development Unit, NAS in South Weymouth, promoted to CDR USNR Assigned as Commanding Officer Naval Air Transport Squadron

Joining American Airlines in February of 1966, he upgraded to captain in the late 1980’s and enjoyed a successful 28 year long career. He was proud to have flown as a captain for a B727 late in the 1980's. Early in the 1990’s he transitioned once again to captain on an Airbus 320. His work provided his family with lots of time together and many interesting travels. Bob Varney’s love of life is what he will be remembered most for.  He will be missed by all his friends and family.

In addition to his devoted wife of 52 years, he is survived by three children and seven grandchildren; his son Rob Varney and his wife Terri of Elliot Maine and their children, Jennifer and Ryan Varney; and his daughter Kathy Defina  and her husband Paul and their children Dan, Andrea, Joey and Rusty all of Wayland; and his youngest daughter, Ellen Perry of Ipswich, and her daughter Julie, who spent many years living across the street from them on Little Neck. All of these grandchildren were fortunate enough to know and love their grandfather, fondly referred to as Rocky by all. He is also survived by his sister, Prudence Young of Woburn.

His funeral  will be held  Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 8 am from the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, followed by a 9:00 am Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Hope Church, Pine Swamp Road, Ipswich. Relatives and friends are respectfully welcomed. Visiting hours will be Friday 3:00 to 7:00 pm. Interment with Naval Honors will be in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 Health Park Circle, For Myers, Florida, 33908.