Franklin---Robert Moller Gilbreth, 87, of Franklin, NH, died Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Franklin Regional Hospital of cancer.
He was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1920, the son of Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian (Moller) Gilbreth of Montclair, New Jersey and Nantucket. He was the eleventh of twelve children, whose family life was recounted to the delight of many over the past sixty years in the best selling books Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes. He attended Montclair public schools, graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1943 with a B.A. degree, attended graduate school at the University of Massachusetts, and later received a Master’s Degree in Education from Plymouth State College.
He spent many summers on Nantucket Island and he and his wife Barbara owned the Anchor Inn for several years. Their innkeeping experiences were chronicled in the book Innside Nantucket by his brother Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. He taught at Nantucket High School and was a teacher and principal of the Franklin Junior high school for 14 years and assistant principal of Franklin Junior/Senior High School for nine years. He also worked for the Community Action Program in Franklin for several years after retiring from education. As a part-time reporter he covered many area meetings and events for the Franklin Telegram newspaper.
He served proudly in the New Hampshire House of Representatives as the Franklin/Northfield Representative from 1985 to 1994. He was also a representative to the New Hampshire Constitutional Convention of 1984. In addition, he served as an at-large member of the Franklin School Board from 1980 to 1987, and was a member of the board of trustees for the Peabody Home of Franklin for several years. He also was a trustee of the Franklin Public Library. He was an active member of the Franklin United Methodist Church.
In his free time he liked visiting with friends and family, and relaxing with a good cup of coffee and reading. He also loved sailing, spending many warm summer days on Webster Lake.
He is survived by his daughter Ann Gilbreth Wilson of Shelburne, Vermont, her husband George, and their son William Lockwood III. He is also survived by his son Roy D. Gilbreth of Franklin, his wife Donna, and their son Robert M. Gilbreth II. Also surviving are his brother Frederick Gilbreth of Larchmont, NY, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at the Franklin United Methodist Church, 88 Franklin St., Franklin, on Sunday, August 26th at 2 p.m. A private family service will be held later at sea, off Nobska Point, Woods Hole, MA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Franklin Visiting Nurse Association, 75 Chestnut Street, Franklin, N. H. 03235,
