Robert "Bob" Bartlett

Robert (Bob) John Bartlett, 77, of Wilmington NC passed away Friday, May 7, 2021 at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center.

Bob was born September 28, 1943 in Philadelphia, PA and grew up in Narberth, PA.  He was the son of Joseph N. Bartlett, Sr., PhD and Margaret (Callahan) Bartlett. 

Bob attended St. Margaret’s Elementary School in Narberth and St. Joseph’s Prep School in Philadelphia.  He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Joseph’s University, Class of 1965.  He was inducted into the U. S. Army March 16, 1966.  Following Basic Training in Ft. Lewis, Washington, he trained at Valley Forge General Hospital (8 weeks Operating Room Spec) and Ft. Sam Houston, Texas (10 weeks Medical Corpsman), and then served as an Operating Room Specialist in a MASH unit in Chu Lai Viet Nam until March 1968.

Upon returning stateside in 1968 with an Honorable Discharge, Bob accepted a position with Union Carbide Corporation, Cherry Hill, NJ and there he met Anne Walker.  They married in June 1970, and in October 1973 Anne gave birth to their beloved daughter, Jennifer.  Bob and Anne were fortunate to lovingly enjoy over 50 years together.

Bob’s career in Purchasing with Union Carbide eventually took the family to South Windsor, CT until he retired in 1998.  He and Anne moved to Wilmington, NC in 2001 to start a new chapter in their lives. 

A Boy Scout and fisherman as a child (trout fishing in local streams and family trips to Canada), as an adult a favorite pastime was surf fishing for striped bass in Martha’s Vineyard, MA. An avid college basketball fan, Bob volunteered as an intramural basketball referee.  As a St. Joseph’s student and graduate, he followed their basketball program, and being a Connecticut resident for 15 years, he became a loyal supporter of UCONN basketball, both the men’s and women’s programs.  He was also a Philadelphia Eagles fan since childhood and enjoyed the highs and lows (maybe not so much the lows) of the team through the years.

Bob also enjoyed bridge, racquetball, and golf (along with playing golf he was also a Starter/Ranger at the Wilmington Municipal Golf Course).   He particularly enjoyed just spending time with his family and friends.  His quick wit and even-tempered personality won him friends wherever he was.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Joe and Peg, and his brother Joseph N. Bartlett, Jr.

He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 50 years, Anne (Walker) Bartlett; his daughter Jennifer (Bartlett) Baca and her partner Mark Howell, two sisters, Barbara (Harry) Neff and Mary (Edwin-dec) Tefft, his sister-in-law Joan (Walker) Loch and brother-in-law Michael Loch, and numerous nieces and nephews and their children along with two Godsons, Michael Coia and Michael Backes.

A Celebration of Life memorial service with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 21, 2021 at Andrews Valley Chapel, 4108 South College Road, Wilmington, with Rev. John McGee officiating.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob’s memory may be made online or by mail to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare (https://lifecare.org), 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, or to National Brain Tumor Society (https://braintumor.org), 55 Chapel Street, Suite 200, Newton, MA 02458.

The family would like to thank the dedicated healthcare workers that provided and assisted with Bob’s care.

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