Robert M. Soule M.D. Obituary (1918 - 2014)

AUGUSTA ~ Robert Monroe Soule, M.D., 96, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family and supported by caring staff at the Maine Veterans' Home in Augusta on Sunday, March 30, 2014. He was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on March 1, 1918, the oldest of four brothers born to Mabel Monroe Soule and Ernest Wesley Soule. Bob graduated from DePauw University in 1939 and Harvard Medical School in 1943. After graduation, he served as a captain in the Army Medical Corps at the Army Hospital in Blandford, England, during World War II. Before shipping out, he trained in Tennessee where he met Nashville native, Caroline Mildred Mann. Bob and Caroline exchanged daily letters during the war. He sent her roses each week and proposed in one of his letters. He bought Caroline's engagement ring in England and when he returned they married Dec. 15, 1945. He opened a cardiology and internal medicine practice in Melrose, Mass., where he practiced medicine for more than 50 years seeing patients and working with residents at Melrose-Wakefield and Malden hospitals and the New England Sanitarium. As a child, Bob's family was very involved in their church where his father was a soloist and the boys sang in the choir. Love of music was a central theme in his life. Though he worked long days, nights and weekends, he made time for family. He and Caroline shared a deep love of music, culture, history and learning. They traveled extensively, taking the family to operas, symphony, art exhibits, museums, historic landmarks and natural wonders in the United States and abroad. He and Caroline were dedicated parents, helping with homework and spending hours supporting their four children's many activities and interests. Bob volunteered for the Melrose School Board for 16 years and chaired a long but successful campaign to build the new Melrose High School. He was an active member of the Melrose Rotary Club and represented them at Rotary Clubs around the world. Bob had a strong baritone voice and greatly enjoyed his friendships and performances with several choirs and musical groups. He leaves behind three brothers, Wesley and Ginny Soule, of Stillwater, Minn., David Soule, of Macomb, Ill., and Donald Soule, of Exeter, England; four children, Bob Jr., and Peg Soule, of Wallingford, Vt., Martha Soule and Harry Grimmnitz, of Readfield, Susan and John Hogan, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Kathy and Tim Soule-Regine, of New Salem, Mass.; eight grandchildren, Dan Soule and Gina Lee, of New York, N.Y., Devin Soule and Sophia Wu, of San Francisco, Calif., Ben Grimmnitz, of Boston, Mass., Cassy Grimmnitz, of Somerville, Mass., Sara and Andy Porter, of Oklahoma City, Okla., Katie and Thomas Bowman, of Chicago, Ill, Vinnie Hogan and Julie Silverblatt, of Austin, Texas, and Alex Soule-Regine, of Burlington, Vt.; and one great-grandchild, Jack Porter, of Oklahoma City, Okla. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the kind attentive care provided by the staff of the Maine Veterans' Home, where Bob spent the last six years of his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Melrose Symphony Orchestra in memory of Bob and Caroline Soule at www.melrosesymphony.org/donate/index.html, or mailed to MSO, Post Office Box 760715, Melrose, MA 02176. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at First United Methodist Church of Melrose, Mass. For details contact them at (781) 662-7060. To send condolence to the family or to share memories and photos, you may go to Bob's obituary page on the Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home website, www.khrfuneralhomes.com.