ENGLEWOOD, FL – Robert E. Lyons, 89, of Englewood, Florida was Called Safely Home on Thursday, April 5, 2012. He passed into Eternal Life at Pinebrook Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Venice, Florida surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family and his wonderful caregivers. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 19, 1923, a beloved son of the late Raymond E. and Ida B. (Canavan) Lyons. He was raised in Randolph,Massachusetts and later lived in Ludlow,Massachusetts Schodack Landing, New York, and Peterborough, New Hampshire before moving to Englewood, Florida in 1986. He served his country in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II with the 25th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He received the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon and the World War II Victory Medal. Following his military service, he returned to the area and was employed for 23 years as a sales representative for Lavallee & Ide Manufacturing Company on Grape Street in Chicopee. He later purchased a farm for his family in Schodack Landing, New York and operated it as the Lyons Dairy Farm for many years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Florida, the American Legion Post 5 in New Hampshire, a former past commander of the American Legion Post 52 in Ludlow and a member of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors. He was a communicant of Saint Raphael Church in Englewood, FL. He was predeceased by his devoted wife and best friend of over 60 years, Lucille (Lavallee) Lyons who was Called Home on June 24, 2006; his loving son, Mark Lyons; his loving daughter, Linda L. Bissler; his cherished grandson, Ethan Lyons; and his dear brothers, R. Edwin “Bud” Lyons, R. Earle Lyons, and Richard “Don” Lyons. He leaves: his five loving children, R. Allan Lyons and his wife, Mae, of Brooklyn, CT, Ann L. Martin and her husband, Richard, of West Granville, MA, Mary C. Gilmore and her husband, David, of Ridge, NY, Thomas J. Lyons and his wife, Tracey, of Warwick, NY, and Francis W. Lyons and his wife, Sharon, of Mountain View, MO; his dear son-in-law, Daniel Bissler, of Maui, HI; nine cherished grandchildren; eight cherished great-grandchildren; his dear sister, Ruth Marshall, of Sylvania, OH; his dear sisters-in-law, Edna Lyons, of Stoughton, MA and Priscilla Lyons, of Monument Beach, MA; and his many dear nephews and nieces. His funeral will be held on Friday morning, April 13, 2012 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 (funeral home will open at 8:30 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His burial with Military Honors will follow the Mass at Sainte Rose Cemetery, 49 Olsen Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. His family will receive friends at the funeral home in the Rose Chapel on Friday morning, April 13, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. before the Mass. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of the donor’s choice. For our online obituary and guest book, please visit www.stpierrephaneuf.com