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Adapted from the Delaware State News
Dover, DE
Robert "Bob" Wilson Hartley died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in his Dover home on Jan. 23, 2010.
Born May 30, 1930, in Philipsburg, Pa., to the late Ernest Wilson Hartley and Marjorie Perks Hartley, he was the oldest of five children.
Bob earned his degree in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University while working at US Steel and living in Levittown, Pa. General Foods brought him to Dover with his wife Mary “Dee” Hartley and their five children in 1964. In 1969 he founded Diamond Electric and Diamond State Engineering. During his leadership with the companies he designed and participated in the construction of many significant facilities in and around Delaware, such as Kraft Foods, Scott Paper/Proctor & Gamble, Dover Downs, Holy Cross Catholic Church, Citibank, the Cape May/Lewes Ferry Terminals and the MainStay Suites and numerous other projects. He was appointed to the Public Service Commission by Governor Carper, served as an offi cer in the Delaware Association of Professional Engineers, and served as President of the Delaware Electrical Board for many years. Bob was an instructor to many in the engineering and electrical fields as well as a mentor to numerous others. He had a great pride in Delaware and made many civic contributions, including serving as a Committee person for the Democratic Party. Bob was a lifelong athlete; he enjoyed basketball, tennis, football and briefly was a prospect for professional baseball. He was an avid Caesar Rodney High School supporter and could often be found in the stands cheering on the team long after his children graduated. He and his wife enjoyed traveling around the world to many places, including Russia, China and Italy.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Dee; his five devoted children, Robert E. Hartley and his fi ancée Brenda Carter of Woodside, Mary D. Stenson and her husband Thomas of Hingham, Mass., Thomas J. Hartley and his wife Marci Drees of Dover, Liz Dunn and her husband Bo of Dover, Ann Baker and her husband Ken of Bethany; nine grandchildren, Chris Dunn and his wife Jennifer, Holly Dunn Nickerson and her hus- band Mark, Kaitlin and Christopher Stenson, Brittany and Cassidy Baker, T.J., Cameron and Katheryn Hartley and a 10th grandchild due in March; one great-grandchild, Emma Cassidy Nickerson; his sister, Virginia Weiss; brothers, James Hartley and his wife Marie, David Hartley and his wife Gloria and sister, Kathy Rainear and her husband Ben; and a host of loving nieces, nephews and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 28, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 631 S. State Street, Dover. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening with a 7 p.m. prayer service at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. Interment will be at Sharon Hills Memorial Park in Dover, DE.
The family suggests contributions be made to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901; or Holy Cross Catholic Church, 631 S. State Street, Dover, DE 19901.
If you would like to post a Memorial Profile for Mr. Hartley, please click here.