Robert Harbour

Bob Harbour, age 90, passed away on January 9, 2011, at the Palm Beach Gardens (FL) Medical Center after an extended illness. He was assisted in his last days by the Hospice of Palm Beach County. Bob was born in Jackson, TN on April 8, 1920, the oldest of 11 children to Elijah and Vadie Harbour. He lived and attended school in Henderson and Jackson, TN. After graduation from high school, he had a brief marriage (from which he had a daughter, Zevadie) and then went to serve in the US Army in World War II. After the war, he lived in Racine, WI before finally settling in Detroit, MI and becoming a Wayne County Sheriff deputy. He married Jeanne Cole on June 25, 1949 (and they had one son, Randall). Bob ascended the ranks of the Sheriff’s department very quickly and became the Senior Inspector (the highest non-publicly elected rank in the department) and in charge of the Wayne County Jail. He later also led the Road Patrol and the Airport Division before retiring in 1975. Bob and Jeanne moved to Delray Beach, FL in 1980 and lived there until Jeanne died in 2001, at which time Bob moved to Palm Beach Gardens. While in Florida, Bob enjoyed being with his wife and friends, playing cards, golf and softball. Bob was a pitcher and first baseman on the over-70 softball team from Deerfield Beach that went to the 1990 Seniors World Series in Phoenix, AZ. It was a shoulder injury from softball that ultimately restricted his golf swing as well. Bob enjoyed being busy and active, and he frequently traveled back to Michigan to play pinochle with his friends in the north. Bob is survived by his two children, Zevadie (husband Sam Harris) (Detroit, MI) and Randall (wife Nancy Caine Harbour) (Ann Arbor, MI); one grandchild; five brothers and sisters, many nieces and nephews; and very many good friends including his closest friend and companion for the last five years, Bettina Chapman (Southfield, MI). There will be a celebration of life at the Northwest Chapel of the JAMES H. COLE HOME FOR FUNERALS, INC. on Saturday, January 29, 2011. In lieu of flowers, the family asks memorials be given to The Arbor Hospice (Ann Arbor, MI).

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