Robert E. Skinner, Sr., 78, of Plainville passed away on May 8, 2023 at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro after courageously battling a short term illness. Robert, better known as "Bob", was born in Attleboro on May 3, 1945 and was the son of the late Clarence E. Skinner Jr. and Arleta (Franklin) Skinner of Plainville.
Bob was a lifelong resident of Plainville. He graduated from King Philip Regional High School in 1964, where he majored in Machine Shop, and worked at Plainville Machine before enlisting in the United States Army in 1965. Prior to his honorable discharge from the US Army in 1968, Bob bravely served his country in Vietnam with the US Army 575th Engineers.
Bob was a third generation firefighter of the Plainville Fire Department, following in the footsteps of his father, Clarence E. Skinner Jr., and grandfather, Clarence E. Skinner Sr., who were also lifelong residents of Plainville. From 1963 to 1968, Bob was a Call Fireman for the Plainville Fire Department prior to getting hired full time there in 1968. While on the PFD, Bob attended and graduated from the Massachusetts Fire Academy located in Stow, Massachusetts in 1969, earned his Associate's Degree in Fire Science through Bristol Community College, and climbed through the ranks before retiring as Fire Chief of the Plainville Fire Department in 1995.
Even though Bob retired from the fire service, Bob never truly retired from working as he and his son, Robert E. Skinner Jr., better known as "JR", established Skinner Trucking Incorporated, a company that is still in business and thriving today. For Bob, Skinner Trucking Incorporated was not only a job, it was a true passion of his. Bob loved driving his truck for the company alongside his son and spent much of his free time working on his trucks.
When Bob was not working, he loved spending time with his wife, Elsie M. (Arno Jillson) Skinner of forty-seven years, his children, his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his siblings, and his many nieces and nephews. Bob also enjoyed holiday gatherings with his family and he most especially enjoyed road trips that he and Elsie took over the years all around the country. Bob was also a member of the Jaycees Club, the Lions Club, the Norfolk County Fire Chiefs Association, and the New England and International Fire Chiefs Association.
Bob is survived by his wife, Elsie M. (Arno Jillson) Skinner of Plainville and his children, Robert E. Skinner Jr. of North Attleboro, Billy Jillson of Plainville, and Kimberly (Jillson) Manning of Wrentham. He also leaves behind his two sisters, Cheri (Skinner) Porter of Plainville and Charlene (Skinner) Nevins of Plainville, as well as his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Visitation, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held in the Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, 15 Grove Street, North Attleboro, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 from 4pm to 7pm. A Funeral Service will be held at the Plainville Methodist Church, 165 East Bacon Street, Plainville, on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 11am, which will be immediately followed by a burial with United States Army and Plainville Fire Department Honors at the Plainville Cemetery, West Bacon Street, Plainville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob's name to the Wounded Warrior Project or the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.