Robert Hathaway, 74, Was U.S. Army Veteran

Robert Hathaway of Edgartown died at Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Nov. 22 after a long battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mildred (Smith) Hathaway.

Robert was born in Quincy on March 21, 1931, but spent his childhood years on the Vineyard. In 1948 he enlisted in the United States Army, retiring in 1972 at the rank of master sergeant. During his career, his military specialties included armor operations and intelligence analysis.

He met his wife while stationed in Austria, and they were married in December 1953. Among his many other duty assignments were tours in Germany, Hawaii, Forts Bragg and Knox and in Asmara, Ethiopia. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

In 1977 he returned to the Vineyard, where he fished and was the co-owner of Katama Seafoods. In addition, Robert served as a member of the Edgartown harbor advisory board and was president of the Edgartown library committee.

He is also survived by four children, Robert Jr., Michael, Jo Ann and Nancy Ann. In addition, he had nine grandsons and one granddaughter.

A memorial was held Nov. 29 at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason funeral home on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road in Oak Bluffs. The Rev. Michael Nagle officiated the service. Interment was held at the New Westside Cemetery in Edgartown with full military honors provided by the Veterans of Martha's Vineyard.

Donations may be made in his memory to the Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, P.O. Box 1747, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.