Robert "Gus" Finley

"Gus fought a good fight, finished his course, kept the faith now there is laid up for him me a crown of righteousness."

Charles and Lydia welcomed Robert Augustus Finley- "GUS"- into this world on October 23, 1942 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Robert "Gus" Finley, 69 of Sycamore Street passed peacefully after an extended illness on November 4, 2011 in Harrisburg Hospital, with his wife and children by his side.

GUS received his formal education in the Harrisburg Public School District and graduated as a GREAT JOHN HARRIS POINEER in 1962; where he led championship football teams and was selected for the prestigious Big 33. He was known as "COOL FIN FROM CENTRAL PENN." After a stellar high school career, GUS attended Virginia Union University.  Afterwards, he returned to Harrisburg and married his high school sweetheart, Wilma Stovall-Finley.  In this union, two children were born, Steven and Gina Finley.  Gus was a former employee of ARC as a counselor and cook and retired as a Supervisor from the Harrisburg School District Food Service Department; he worked within professions that surrounded him with peers and young people daily.  Gus was a member of Grace Temple Church of the Living God. He became fond of the songs "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus, which he held true to after accepting Christ as his personal Savior and "What God Has For You, It is For You" which was a trademark song of his late mother-in-law, Katie Thompson.

Gus was always able to tackle any and all challenges which came his way as a Project Kid to a man finding his way- in order to support his family and friends. However, last week God called a play for himself unseen by Gus before. After a silent snap, God took off running NORTH faster than anyone GUS had ever lined up to tackle. The play only ended when God slowed down at the one yard-line with Gus on his back. God then- with a last lunge- landed in heaven's END zone with Gus on Friday November 4, 2011.

Some of his cherished memories are for telling jokes- in which he was always the loudest or saying the following clichAC. lines: Pretty Fair for the Wear and Tear (when asked how he's doing) / Chillin' like a villain trying to make money to the ceiling and constantly reminding his grandchildren that "To be aware is to be alive." Cooking on the grill was one of his favorite pastimes and taking all of the credit for the good food.  The most valuable trait he possessed was being a loving husband, devoted father & grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

In addition to his parents, Charles and Lydia Finley, Gus was preceded in going home with the Lord by brothers; Charles, Barry and Jerome Finley and sisters Lillian Manning and Shirley Wilson

Forever cherishing his memories are his wife of 49 years, Wilma Finley, children Steven (Judith) Finley, Sr., Gina Finley (Karl) and Richard Norris all of Harrisburg; Sisters Brenda Johnson and Rozanne Rene ; five grandchildren Ashlee Finley, Tiffany Norris, Steven Finley Jr., Brian Finley, Karl Singleton III, dedicated sister-in-law, Barbara Hopkins, one devoted Godson; Anthony "Bosco" Thompson; and a plethora of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and associates.

This correspondence is to comfort all who are saddened that Gus has taken up new residence in the Heavenly Mansion which was especially designed for him. On Friday November 4, 2011, with his wife and children by his side, Gus felt, heard and listened to our Father's voice directing him to come on in. The street lights of gold were on bright and he knew not to fight- for throughout the night he had come to grips that his soul was made right.

It is with knowing that death has no sting to those of faithfulness and that JOY will truly come in the morning that we the family submit the aforementioned on behalf of our rock Robert Augustus Finley!