Robert F. Brettman

After high school, Bob joined the U.S. Army before beginning a long career in the U.S. Air Force. Bob served in Vietnam and was stationed in Japan and Germany. After retiring from the military, Bob met and married his soulmate Patricia Delea and they settled in Waldorf, where Bob lived for the rest of his life.

Bob’s life was full of adventures, from his time in the military maintaining aircraft that included Air Force One, to traveling around the world to photograph the Olympics. His many hobbies included photography, target shooting, gun making, model railroads, model planes, and (with his wife Pat) collecting teddy bears and donating them to local law enforcement to be used to comfort children in crisis. Bob and Pat explored the world in comfort on nearly all of the Viking European river cruises, as well as experiencing an African safari. They also logged many road miles visiting all 50 states and taking yearly ski vacations. Despite not having children of their own, Bob and Pat were a positive and supporting presence in the lives of their many nieces and nephews.

Bob is survived by his sister-in-law Martha Delea, his nephews and nieces Thomas O'Neill (Beth) and Michael O'Neill (Shari), Michael Delea (Kris), Mary Beth Delea Hill (Andrew), Kathleen Delea Brown (Cary), Timothy Delea (Chris), and Molly Delea McEvoy (Peter), Richard Delea (Erin), as well as numerous great nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 23, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Huntt Funeral Home in Waldorf, Maryland. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 24, 2026, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Waldorf. Burial will be Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery in Cheltenham, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Center for Children, Inc., P.O. Box 2924 La Plata, MD 20646-2984, or the American Legion Harry White Wilmer Post 82, P.O. Box 441, 6330 N. Crain Hwy., La Plata, MD 20646.