Robert and Dorothy Champion

Robert and Dorothy Champion, ages 76 and 73, died on December 22nd and December 23rd respectively at their home, 9562 Lodi Center Road, both of cancer.

Bob was born in Valois on September 26, 1944, one of 10 children to Harold S. and Dorothy (Bennett) Champion, Dorothy was born in Montour Falls on January 3, 1947, one of 8 children to Clyde and Alice (Hoyt) Bulkley. They were married on June 26, 1964, and from that point forward their lives, much like their deaths, were inter-twined and spent together. Bob’s early career was working as a welder at Seneca Engineering in Montour Falls, and Dot was a short order cook at the Ovid diner. Together they owned and operated Bob’s Welding & Fabricating, Dot as the secretary/bookkeeper, Bob as the manufacturer. Together they sang and played in jamborees, Bob’s ear for music began at a very young age, and he had played in many bands and venues all over the region. Dorothy loved canning, gardening, crafting, Bob’s hobbies included fishing, hunting, trap shooting and playing cards, together they enjoyed the Interlaken Sportsmen’s Club and the Moose Lodge of Montour Falls, along with putting together benefits to help their friends, family and neighbors in need. At the center of it all, with glowing hearts, was their family, and the Champions are known for their closeness and tight family bonds.

Together their family includes their children; May (Floyd) Barnes, Edith Wittig, and Robert “Bob” (Trish) Champion Jr., all of Lodi, their grandchildren; Adelaid (Richard)  Neary Alicia (Arthur) Masloski, Floyd Barnes Jr, Lawrence Barnes, Cora and Jasmine Champion, their great grandchildren; Wyatt Richar, Sydney Barnes, Heidi Neary, and Samara Masloski, Bob’s siblings; Yvonne (Brent) Ward of Interlaken, Ralph (Barb) Champion Sr. of Valois, Dorothy’s siblings; David (Joann) Bulkley of Addison, Clyde “Scottie” (Debbie) Bulkley of Corning, Shirley (Richard) Horton of Bradford, Gen (Harry) Goosen of Montour Falls, Beverly (Chuck) Parker of Hornell, Sidney (Gordie) Maddison of Troy, PA, Marsha Spotts of North Carolina, and a sister in law, Molly Bulkley of Beaver Dams,

They were preceded in death by their infant daughter, Elma L. Champion and a grandson, Loyd Barnes and Son-in-Law David Neary, Bob’s siblings; Calvin, Jack, Harold Leroy, Lester, Elma Updike, Jean Depew and Marge McCheyne, and Dot’s bother, Thomas “Skipper” Bulkley and sister Lorraine Levadas of Syracuse.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 5:00pm on Tuesday, December 29th at Covert Funeral Home, 7199 Main Street in Ovid. All Covid-19 protocols will be in place, masks, social distancing and occupancy limitations. Please attend only if you’re willing to adhere to those guidelines as set forth by NYS. A private funeral will be held on Wednesday. Prayers of committal will be held in the late Spring of 2021 and all will be invited to attend, based on Covid-19 guidelines at that time.

Kindly consider a donation in Bob & Dorothy’s memory to Lifetime Care Hospice, 330 Monroe Ave., Suite 400, Rochester, NY 14607. 

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