Robert W. (Skeeter) Hoats

HANOVER TOWNSHIP- Robert W. “Skeeter” Hoats, 79, of Upper Askam, passed away Sunday evening. Born on October 23, 1934 in Wilkes-Barre, he was a son of the late Clifford and Mildred (Shephard) Hoats. As a child, his baseball career took on early success as his team made it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport in 1943. He was a graduate of Elmer L. Meyers High School where he excelled not only in one sport, but was able to successfully combine sports careers lettering in baseball, football, track and basketball between 1951 and 1954. In 1953, he was a running back and the team won the city championship. He capped his high school baseball career by being named the most valuable baseball player in Pennsylvania in 1954 and received the A.S. Beck Trophy. He was drafted by an independent professional baseball club in Big Springs, Texas, playing shortstop in that league for four years before suffering a career ending injury. In 2010, he was inducted into the Luzerne County Chapter of the Sports Hall of Fame. Robert was a veteran of the United States Army. Prior to retiring in 2013, he was employed by Luzerne County Community College for 12 years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Melanie Smith, who passed away in 2012; and brothers, Gary, John, Ken and Boyd. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, the former Vera Chervak; daughter Myra Kremenic and her husband, Michael of Lee Park; son-in-law, Joel Smith, Mountain Top; grandchildren Eva, Marissa and Michael Kremenic; sisters Barbara Davis and her husband Wayne, Land O’Lakes, Florida; brother-in-law Andy Chervak and his wife Mary Ellen; numerous nieces and nephews, brother and sisters-in-law. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Kniffen O’Malley Funeral Home, 465 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre, with the Reverend William N. Lukesh officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call Friday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Albright United Methodist Church, Dana & Grove Streets, Wilkes-Barre, Pa 18702.