Robert 'Bob' Franklin Stuart, 80

BRIDGEVILLE - Retired Major Robert "Bob" Franklin Stuart, of Bridgeville, departed this life on March 21, 2009, after a long and courageous battle with several illnesses. He was 80. At the time of his passing Bob was at home in Tualatin, Ore., with his best friend and beloved wife of 54 years, the former Mary Hall, also from Bridgeville. Besides his wife Mary, Bob is survived by son, Larry Stuart and wife Sherri of Houston, Texas; daughter, Betsy and husband Ron Chaney of Dumfries, Va.; daughter, Susie and husband Bob Masin of Portland, Ore.; son, Bill Stuart and wife Michelle of Rehoboth. Bob enjoyed nothing more than being with family, especially his nine grandchildren, Sara Stuart, Brooke Prouty, Rachel Schrider, Julie Masin, Elizabeth Thomas, Max Masin, Lauren Stuart, Stephen (Texas) Stuart, Courtney Cotner and Lance Cotner; as well as three great-grandchildren, Joey Thomas, Ava Prouty and Rowan Schrider. Bob also is survived by a number of nieces and nephews whom he loved very much. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, William E. and May L. Stuart; brother, Billy Stuart; sisters, Sara Boyd, Rachel Rudelmier and Dorothy Fairbanks. A graduate of Bridgeville High School, Bob served as a Sgt. in the United States Air Force during the Korean War from 1948 to 1951. On Oct. 1, 1953, he was appointed to the Delaware State Police, assigned to Troop 5 in Bridgeville as a patrolman. Over the course of his 20 year career on the State Police, Bob was promoted through the ranks until he retired third in command with the rank of Major in July 1973. A finger print and photography expert, Major Stuart was responsible for the design and implementation of the first computerized online state wide information system (CLUES) for Delaware, embracing all police, court and correctional agencies in the state. Not content with retirement at age 42, he gave up his cop scanner, trading his gun for a pen and went to work as a planner for the Delaware Agency for the Reduction of Crime (DARC). Well respected statewide on both sides of the aisle, Bob was DARC's goodwill liaison with both a sharp wit and a quick smile. Not being one to dilly or dally he also administered the state fund for SALLE. Six years later Bob left for The Family Court of the State of Delaware where he became Director of the Sussex County Family Court Operation. Here Bob was also one of the founding members of SENTAC. For fifteen years the esprit de corps always evidenced by members of the Sussex County Staff was a direct reflection of his management style and high regard for the people he served with. Bob served on the Board of Directors for Nanticoke Memorial Hospital and The Delaware State Fair as well as the Turnabout Counseling Center. He also served as past president of the Delaware Association of Chiefs' of Police and the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the International Association of Identification (IAI). He was also a Regional Vice-President for IAI; Bob was an Instructor at Delaware Technical and Community College, Brandywine Community College, as well as the Delaware State Police Training Academy. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 21, as well as a charter member of the Delaware State Police Credit Union. Bob's education was ongoing having attended courses at Harvard University, University of Maryland, Delaware Technical and Community College, Goldey Beacom College, Federal Bureau of Investigation, IBM and the Institution of Applied Science. Many who remember Bob will always recall his positive, uplifting attitude toward life, making everyone he met feel special and unique in some way. His motto was, you always need something to look forward to, and as long as he had Mary by his side, that is exactly what he practiced. Never one to miss a party, Bob was adamant there not be a funeral with tearful mourning and regret. Instead, he insisted we hold a celebration of his life so friends and family are invited to join us on Saturday, April 18, 2009, at 10 a.m. in The Brick Hotel on the Circle in Georgetown. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Delaware State Police Museum Fund, P.O. BOX 430, Dover, DE 19903, 739-7700 or, your local chapter of the American Heart Association.