Webster, MA – Robert Louis Costen, 68, passed on May 12 at UMass Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in an earlier fall. Surrounded by family, his spirt was peacefully reunited with his deceased parents John and Frances E. (Riley) Costen of Webster.
Born July 24, 1952 he’s survived by his brother and sister-in-law Michael and Ginger Costen. Lovingly known as “Uncle Bobby” he’s also survived by nieces Jennifer Hoy from Dayton, OH, Tina Madden from Woodstock, CT, Jessica Trodella from Mansfield and Joscilyn Lengenfelder from Webster and nephews Mitchel Lengenfelder from Carson City, NV, Jamie Wessman from Cortland, NY, and Donny Wessman from Worcester.
A lifelong resident of Webster, Robert attended St. Louis Church and Intermediate school from 1956-1968.
In 1968 he started working for Sandler-ette Footwear as a distribution floor-boy and continued with BW Footwear from 1979-1983. Robert attended the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Center / Life Skills, Inc. from 1984 – 2010 in their supported employment and day programs. Although never one to do yard work at home, Robert’s favorite job at the center was raking leaves at the Dudley Village cemetery followed with fresh baked cookies from the center’s Big Fat Cookie Company.
Following in his father’s and brother’s footsteps, he joined a bowling team at the Mohegan Bowl in Webster. Robert’s life quickly revolved around Monday night bowling often substituting for other absent league bowlers.
For fifty years he never missed a bowling event until the week of March 20, 2016. Bobby fell and broke his hip on the previous Friday but refused medical care arguing that nothing was wrong. Finally, he agreed to go Monday night only after the bowling tournament had ended. The x-rays proved his hip was broken, yet when the doctor told Robert, he sat up on the ER gurney and said, “well it wasn’t broken when I walked in here!”
Robert loved watching Red Sox games, NASCAR races and collecting baseball memorabilia, American flags, smiley-face pins, magnets and keychains.
Graveside services are being held Tuesday May 25 at 10:30 am in the Mount Zion Cemetery, 55 Worcester Rd, Webster, MA.
In lieu of flowers, his family requests that on Robert’s birthday July 24, 2021 at 4:15 PM you share Bobby’s dedication to his beloved Red Sox by yelling, “GO SOX” during their home game against the evil NY Yankees.
The ROBERT J. MILLER FUNERAL HOME and LAKE CHAPEL ,366 School St., is assisting Robert’s family with arrangements.
To leave an on-line condolence, please visit: RJMillerfuneral.net