Robert "Bob" A. Rankin

Bob resided in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he proudly and privately lived a life full of integrity, warmth, and laughter with his beloved wife of 45 years, Patricia (Miller) Rankin. Born to Warren Charles Rankin and Patricia Ann (Smith) Rankin on January 31, 1955, in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Bob grew up participating in sports and spending time outside with his brothers. Bob graduated from UMASS Dartmouth and worked as a Mechanical Design Engineer for many years until his retirement in 2016.

Together with Patricia, Bob raised a loving family, including three incredible children and was adoringly present for each of their weddings. Known for his private nature, Bob was a virtuous man whose family was his greatest priority. Bob delighted in spending time with his grandchildren Raymond, Andrew, and Ethan, whom he shared his affection and warmth with freely.

An adventurous spirit, Bob deeply appreciated the outdoors and spent a great deal of his time hiking, biking, kayaking, and bird watching. He was a solitary man who cherished making others smile; he was always armed with a joke, a contagious laugh, and a twinkle in his eye. Bob continued to prioritize his family and continuously found ways to experience joy in everyday moments even while fighting a very long battle with cancer first diagnosed in his thyroid in 2013. Bob cherished life, lived well, and will be greatly missed.

Bob is survived by his wife Patricia, his children and their spouses, Jason Rankin and wife Kate Conway of Maine, Kim Holmes and husband Brian of Rhode Island, and Kristen Rankin-Smith and husband Drake of Plainville, Massachusetts. Bob is also survived by his brothers, Brian Rankin and his wife Nancy of Florida, and Rick Rankin of Weymouth, Massachusetts, as well as a niece, a nephew, and two great nieces.

Over the years, Bob received exceptional care from providers at Dana Farber. In lieu of flowers, Bob’s family asks that donations may be made in Bob's name to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, Massachusetts, 02284, or by visiting www.dana-farber.org.

To leave a tribute, please visit our website at www.rock-funeralhome.com

The family will be holding a Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 10:00AM at ROCK FUNERAL HOME, 1285 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02745. There will be time for you to share your memories and stories of Bob with all who loved him.