Robert Lawrence Bartlett

Robert Lawrence "Bob" Bartlett was born 18 May 1925 and raised in Hilton Village, then a new suburb of Newport News, Virginia, home to the great Shipyard where aircraft carriers and ocean liners were being built. His father, C. Lawrence Bartlett, an MIT engineering graduate from Maine, was an official in the Shipyard. And his mother Bertha Johnson Bartlett was a former teacher from nearby Surry County, Virginia. Bob died in Columbia, Missouri on October 6th, 2026.

Bob entered VPI, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, in 1942, the first year of World War ll. He volunteered in the U. S. Navy's V-12 program and was sent to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY., where he received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

He was then sent to Midshipman's School in New York City where he was commissioned as an Ensign at age 20. He was then ordered to the USS PC-1077, based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii where he became chief engineer. After many interesting experiences he was discharged from active duty on 13 August 1946.

Postwar Bob attended Babson College in Boston area where he studied Business Administration and humanities. From there he contracted to teach Mechanical Engineering at Robert College in Istanbul, Turkey on a three year contract.

During his first summer vacation from Robert College he went to Paris. There he met Ada Van Gelder, a Dutch American from New York City. Ada had worked for the OWI, Office of War Information, during World War II and was a graduate of Columbia University. Bob and Ada were married in Rome, Italy on 6 September 1950, and went to live in Istanbul so Bob could complete his contract. Paul Lawrence Bartlett, their first child, was born in Istanbul April1,1952.

They returned to the U.S. in 1952. Bob was hired by the General Electric Company in Schenectady, NY in its Steam Turbine Generator Division. He worked for General Electric for 18 years in the design and engineering of steam turbines, aircraft engines and kitchen appliances. Following that he was employed by Black and Decker, McGraw-Edison and Shopsmith in various engineering management positions. He retired as Vice President for Engineering at Shopsmith in 1987.

When Bob retired from Shopsmith he set up a successful consulting business investigating and providing expert witness testimony in lawsuits involving power tool accidents. He and Ada moved to Juno Beach, Florida to be near son Russ and his family.

During this period they took the opportunity to also travel widely in Europe and the Americas. Ada spoke French and German as well as Dutch and English. Bob was beginning to feel his age and discontinued his consulting work in 2000 at age 75.

In 2005, when Bob was 80 and Ada 84, they moved to Lenoir Woods retirement community in Colombia, Missouri, to be near their youngest son David. Unfortunately, Ada was suffering from Parkinson's disease and died in 2012 at age 91, after 61 years of marriage. When Ada died Bob was healthy but lonely at age 87. But a year later he met Priscilla LeBaron Bevins, widow of a former friend at Calvary Episcopal Church. Priscilla was only 81. After a whirlwind courtship, they were married on August 3, 2013. They have lived and loved happily together in Lenoir Woods retirement community for the past 10 years.

Shortly after moving to Columbia, Bob had taken up "birding" as a serious hobby. He and Priscilla took many trips throughout the United States pursuing opportunities to photograph birds in their native habitats. This led to a series of photo shows and lectures about birds and their habitats. He became known locally as "the bird man".

Ada and Bob had three sons: Paul 1952, Russ 1954, and David 1959.

Paul Lawrence Bartlett was born in Istanbul, Turkey. Paul graduated from Antioch College and settled in Baltimore. He married Holly Maddux in 1980. They had two sons: Daniel 1981 and Benjamin 1988. Ben Bartlett and his wife Heyward have two children, Thomas, born 2022 and Arthur, born in 2024. Paul and Holly were divorced, and Paul remarried Gail Annette (Whorrell) Clarke in 2000.

Russell Maurice Bartlett was born in Schenectady, NY in 1954. He married Sandra Lea Wright in West Palm Beach, FL in 1981. They had twin daughters in 1983, Melissa and Kristen and a son Bradley 1989. Melissa and husband Adrian Lawrence have three children: Catherine, Andy and Jake. Kristen and husband Alex O'Neal have one son, Max. Bradley married Dr. Kate Conley in 2023. They have one child, Ellie.

David Van Gelder Bartlett was born in Schenectady, NY in 1959. He lives and works in Columbia, MO. He married Lisa Natalie Braman in 1988. They have three children: Asia 1989, Mason 1991, and Tonia 1995. Asia married Cory Klassen and they have three children: Sadie 2014, Marley Jane 2016, and Brooks 2018. Mason married Kate Conley in 2022 and they have one child, Murphy. Tonia married James Shafto in 2023 and they have one child, Charlotte.

Friends and family may gather Monday, October 12th from 2:30-4:30 at Memorial Funeral Home 1217 Business Loop 70 West Columbia, MO. Funeral service will be 11am, Tuesday, October 13th at Epple Chapel at Lenoir Woods, 3710 Lenoir Street Columbia, MO. Burial with military honor will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia.

Condolences and fond memories can be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com