Bob Seller 2015 Obituary

Former NEAR President
Bob Seller Passes-Away
November 17, 2015

(SOUTHINGTON, CT) Word has reached us that former New England Antique Racers President Bob Seller passed-away on Sunday, November 15, 2015. A veteran of the Korean War, he was 87.

Bob, along with his family, were long-involved with NEAR. Serving as club President for a number of years, Bob’s Pinto modified was a familiar scene on the vintage racing circuit for many seasons.

It should be noted that Bob’s involvement in the sport dates back decades. In the 1970s he was among the very-first competitors to field a car in the New London-Waterford Speedbowl’s newly-formed Street Stock division. He was a well-liked and respected competitor at the Speedbowl, enjoying many fine finishes.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville, CT. Burial with full military honors will follow in South End Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Plantsville Funeral Home. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com; see full obituary below.

The New England Antique Racers (NEAR) would like to take this opportunity to forward its sincere condolences to the entire Seller family and all of Bob’s many friends on this somber occasion.

By Dave Dykes

Published online at www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com:

In Memoriam of Robert J. Seller

Military:
American Flag

U.S. Army

FUNERAL SERVICES

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield, CT 06002 or https://www.fidelco.org/.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville. Burial with full military honors will follow in South End Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Plantsville Funeral Home.

Robert J. “Bob” Seller, 87, of Southington, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. He had been the loving husband of Rachel (Goetchius) Seller for 62 years.

He was born on January 21, 1928 to the late John and Jane (Martin) Seller, in Quincy, Mass. and moved to Southington in 1954.

Bob proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the post Korean War. He graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelors degree in Manufacturing Engineering and went on to earn his Masters in Business from RPI. He worked as a manufacturing engineer, retiring from Fafnir Bearing after 33 years. He was a longtime member of the First Congregational Church in Southington where he spent many Sundays filling the sanctuary with his wonderful bass voice in the choir.

In his retirement years, he became involved with New England Antique Racers (NEAR) to pursue his love and passion for auto racing. He proudly drove the 49 pinto modified at many New England tracks representing NEAR. He was also on the Board of Directors for many years and served the club as president.

In addition to his wife Rachel, he is survived by his daughter Rhonda Blanchette and her husband Gerry of Plantsville; his son Rodney J. Seller and his wife Kristin of New Britain and three grandchildren: Amanda Seller of Hebron; Robert Blanchette and his longtime girlfriend Jenn of Panama City Beach, FL and Megan Blanchette of Plantsville and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother William “Bill” Seller.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Vision Way, Bloomfield, CT 06002 or https://www.fidelco.org/.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 at the Plantsville Funeral Home, 975 S. Main St., Plantsville. Burial with full military honors will follow in South End Cemetery, Southington. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Plantsville Funeral Home. For online condolences and directions, please visit www.plantsvillefuneralhome.com.