New Hampshire
Robert Paul (Bob) Stambaugh, formerly of Columbus, passed away Sunday, Sept. 4, 2016, in Hanover, New Hampshire, after a brief illness. He was 94.
Bob was widely loved and respected as a thoughtful, kind and friendly member of the community at Kendal at Hanover, where he lived for his last 20 years. To his family, he was a loving father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather, and he was a role model for his children. He was passionate about many current issues facing the country, and he devoted his engineer’s logic to forming his opinions about them.
Bob was born Jan. 17, 1922, in Youngstown, Ohio, to the late Paul Horatio and Adele McCaslin Stambaugh. He grew up in Columbus, Indiana, where he graduated from Columbus High School at the age of 16.
He enrolled at Purdue University, and there he met his future wife, Bobby. Bob graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. He went to work for National Carbon Company (Bakelite) – which later was acquired by Union Carbide Corporation – for which he worked until he retired at age 60. His career took him to several locations around the country and, finally, to the corporate offices in New York City.
On July 6, 1943, Bob married the love of his life, Roberta Ruth Walker (Bobby). A year later, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division. He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and through to the end of hostilities, and he was awarded both the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge. Bob returned home after the war, worked for Union Carbide, had four children and traveled the world with Bobby.
In 1982, Bob retired and he moved to Quechee, Vermont, and then to Kendal at Hanover, New Hampshire, where he lived for the remainder of his life.
Bob loved golf, football, politics, classical music and travel. He especially loved his family, and he will be remembered for his patience, his humor, his wisdom and his warmth.
He is survived by his daughter, Margery Gardner of New Canaan, Connecticut; and sons, Dan Stambaugh of Rhinebeck, New York, Fred Stambaugh of Moraga, California, and Joel Stambaugh of Watchung, New Jersey. He also leaves seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A service in celebration of Bob’s life will be held in October at Kendal at Hanover, New Hampshire. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Cadbury Fund, Kendal at Hanover, c/o Anne Rogers, Controller, 80 Lyme Road, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755.
