Robert G. Hayes

Nov. 16, 1940 - Mar. 22, 2023

__________________

Visitation:

     Tuesday March 28, 2023
     10 A.M.- Noon

     Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home
     & Memorial Service, Inc.

 

Memorial Services:

     Tuesday March 28, 2023
     Noon

     Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home
     & Memorial Service, Inc.
     

 

Memorials
may be made to:

     Donor’s fire department
     or ambulance squad
     
     

Robert G. Hayes
Champion Horseshoe Pitcher
Robert G. Hayes, 82, of Olean and formerly of Franklinville, New York, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at Olean General Hospital after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Born on November 16, 1940, in Franklinville, he was a son of John and Rosamond Clement Hayes. On June 30, 1984, in Franklinville he married the former Joyce Griffith, who predeceased him on March 11, 2020.

Bob was a graduate of Franklinville Central School Class of 1958. From 1958-1972 he was a butcher for Market Basket. He had been a part-time police officer in the Village of Franklinville for seven years. In 1972, after completing his waste water treatment course, he became the Waste Water Treatment Supervisor until he retired in July of 2000.

He began pitching horseshoes in 1972 and entered his first state tournament in 1978. From there he competed all over the United States pitching horseshoes. He was a five-time New York State Horseshoe Champion, and was World Champion for the Mens Senior Division in 2003, and at one time was ranked #10 in the world. He pitched horseshoes for a total of 32 years. In 2002, he was inducted into the NYS Horseshoe Pitching Hall of Fame in honor of his five NYS titles. Not only skilled in pitching horseshoes, he was inducted in 2009 into the Cattaraugus County Sports Hall of Fame and in 2011 into the WNY Baseball Hall of Fame for his many years of playing baseball for the Frankee’s Baseball Team.

Bob was a lifetime member of the Franklinville Conservation Club, Franklinville Urania Lodge #626 of F&AM, the NRA, Pioneer Trap Shooting League, the Cuba Rod & Gun Club, the National Wildlife Turkey Federation, and was a past elder at the Franklinville Presbyterian Church. He also enjoyed golfing on the Monday and Thursday Men’s League at Allegheny Hills Golf Course, bowling, hunting, and traveling the United States with his wife.

He is survived by his children, Barry (Phebe) Hayes of Niagara Falls, Brett (Ellen) Hayes of Ledyard, CT, Robert (Margy) Wolfer of Randolph, Rebecca “Becky” (Tim) Dash of Franklinville and Rita (Malcolm) Lindsay of Huntersville, NC; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; a sister, Sallie Territo of Busti, NY; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife Joyce, he was predeceased by a son-in-law Mark Bowen and a brother John Hayes.

Friends may call at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull Street, Cuba, NY. from 10 a.m. until Noon on Tuesday March 28, 2023. Memorial Services will follow at Noon in the funeral home. Pastor Stuart Burton will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be sent to the donor’s fire department or ambulance squad.

 

                     

 

 

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Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc.
rinkerfuneralhome.com