Bob had resided most of his life in the Belfast area. He attended Oklahoma City High School and later received his GED from BOCES. He was a career man serving in the Navy from October 12-43 until November 29, 1962. While in the Navy he served aboard the USS Yorktown CVS10, the USS Helena CA75 and the USS Bremerton CA130. Upon his retirement from the Navy, he was employed as a truck driver for New York State DOT in Friendship. He retired from there in 1993 as a foreman.

Bob enjoyed playing cards, attended reunions with Navy shipmates and most of all he loved drinking coffee and talking with his many friends at Aces Restaurant in Belfast.

He was a member and former commander of the Robert W. Howden Belfast American Legion Post # 1504, a charter member of the Belfast Lions Club, Member and treasurer of the Birdsall Grange # 1117.

Surviving in addition to his wife Norma are two sons, Robert (Linda) Elrod of Elizabethton, TN, and Eddie (Cindy) Polanowski of Angelica; a daughter, Linda (Frank) Swafford of Indio, CA; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren; a sister, Helen Heather of Hamburg, NY; and several nieces and nephews.

Bob was predeceased by two brothers, Edmund Polanowski and Richard Polanowski; and a sister, Loretta "Bebee" Shrouf.