Wayne (Bob) L. Torrey
1931-2021
ZEPHYRHILLS, FL - Wayne (Bob) L. Torrey of 5657 Arrowhead Drive, Zephyrhills, a former resident of Ceres, NY,
passed away Friday, May 14, 2021 at his home with his family and loving companion Barbara Thomas by his side
following a brief illness.
Born November 13, 1931 in Ceres, NY, he was the son of Adrian and Nina Loucks Torrey. On June 22, 1952, in
Bolivar, NY he married his high school sweetheart, Thelma J. Smith who predeceased him on September 14, 2009.
Mr. Torrey was a graduate of Bolivar Central School where he was a standout athlete. While on the football team
they were undefeated for four years. In 1948 he scored 15 touchdowns and five extra points for a total of 95 points.
He was a three-year varsity basketball player and while on the track team for four years he was undefeated in the
100-yard dash and the 220-yard dash. He attended St. Bonaventure on a Scholarship where he played football with
Ted Marchibroda and in a game against Johnny Unitas. In 2012 he was inducted into the Allegany County Sports Hall
of Fame. His previous employers were Clark Bros., Market Basket Stores, Stroehmann’s Bakery, John & Clara Lang,
Keebler Biscuit Co., and Quaker State Oil where he retired in 1989. He was a previous owner of the Bolivar Liquor
Store. All through life he was a free-lance carpenter and handy man and he had a passion for refinishing beautiful
pieces of furniture.
He was a strong believer in community service which he instilled in his children. He served as first president of the
Ceres Community Center. He served a 2-year term as Justice of the Peace and 6 years as Town Councilman for the
Town of Genesee. Wayne also served on the Bolivar Central School Board of Education for a period of ten years. In
1959 he became a member of the Portville Lodge 579 F&AM where he was Master in 1973. He was a Charter
Member and Past President of the Bolivar Lions Club. His other activities included membership in the Coudersport
Consistory, Ismailia Shrine of Buffalo and membership in the Wellsville Lodge 1495 BPOE. He also served on the local
branch community advisory board for Fleet Bank in Bolivar N.Y.
Surviving besides his loving companion Barbara Thomas, who never left his side, are his four children Randall
(Debbie) Torrey of Zephyrhills FL; Robert (Brenda) Torrey and Jody (Chris) Torrey of Wellsville N.Y.; Candace (John)
Childs of Greenacres FL.; Daughter in law Marilyn Torrey of Zephyrhills FL.; 24 grandchildren, 51 greatgrandchildren;
11 great-greatgrandchildren; one brother Timothy (Dorothy) Torrey of Ocala FL.; sister in law Lea Torrey of
Zephyrhills FL: and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents he was predeceased by a sister Barbara Canfield and a stepson Ricky Wareham.
He was predeceased by his parents; wife Thelma; son Martin Wayne Torrey; grandson Michael Wayne Torrey;
brothers Adrian Torrey and Bruce Torrey; sisters Shirley Blakesley and Jerry Lafever.
Friends may call at the Schaffner Funeral Home Inc. Bolivar0n Thursday 2-4 6-8 P.M. Graveside services will be held
on FridayMay21, 2021 at 11 A.M. in Bowler Memorial Cemetery Little Genesee N.Y. The Rev, David Herne of
Heritage Aflame Ministries of Bolivar will officiate.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Bolivar Fire Department Ambulance fund 460 Main St. Bolivar, NY
14715; Bolivar Lions Club Box 402 Bolivar NY 14715 or Gulfside Hospice, 2061 Collier Parkway, Land O’Lakes, FL,
34639 Attn; Donations.
Schaffner Funeral Home
