Obituary of Robert A Zelley

ROBERT ALLEN ZELLEY

Robert (“Bob”) Allen Zelley was born on February 12, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to 

Edmund and Ruth Zelley.  He passed away on September 1, 2023 from Broken Heart Syndrome after losing his high school sweetheart and wife of 62 years, Elsa (Bingemann) Zelley, to Alzheimers.

Bob graduated from Haddonfield Memorial High School in 1957 and from Drexel University in 1965.  He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 through 1961.  After briefly living in towns in southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania as a young couple, he and Elsa lived in Hackettstown, Titusville, Kinnelon and Independence Twp., New Jersey.  They also enjoyed vacationing in their shore home in Harvey Cedars, New Jersey.  At the time of his passing, Bob was a resident of The Oaks at Denville.

Over the course of his career, Bob was a regional supervisor for Esso/Exxon/Alert, Amerada Hess, Reinauer Petroleum and Fotomat.  He was later a school bus driver for Boonton Transport and its successors and for the Washington Twp. (Morris County) Board of Education.

Bob was a proud Master Mason and member of the Order of the Eastern Star.  Bob worshipped as a Methodist for most of his life, but remained proud of his family’s Quaker heritage.

Bob was a devoted Philadelphia sports fan, particularly of the Eagles and Phillies.  He was also an avid Railroad enthusiast and historian, as well as being a student of military history, particularof World War II history.   He also enjoyed camping and traveling.

Bob was the loving father of son and daughter-in-law Frederick and Patricia Zelley, and loving grandfather of Christopher, Jillian, Jacqueline, Nicholas and Alexander Zelley, of Randolph, New Jersey.  He is also survived by his beloved brothers, Walton and David Zelley, and Sister-in-Law, Milbrey (Turner) Zelley, as well as his beloved Nephews, Nieces, and Great and Great-great Nephews and Nieces.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter, 23 Vreeland Road, Suite 105, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932 https://www.alz.org/?form=alz_donate