Robert G. Barnes, Jr.

Robert G. “Bob” Barnes, Jr., 85, resident of Grantham, NH, died on July 15, 2014 in Lebanon, NH surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Flushing, NY on February 19, 1929, the son of Robert G. Barnes, Sr. and Sophie A. (Blazej) Barnes. He graduated from Bayside High School, Queens, NY in 1947. Bob earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering with honors from Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ, Class of 1950 and was inducted into Tau Beta Pi. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army Signal Corp from 1951 �" 1953 as an instructor in operation and maintenance of engine driven generators. He received an honorable discharge January 1953. In 1953 he was hired as a design engineer for Dresser Clarke Division, Olean, NY, working on a new line of large turbo charged gas engine compressors. He met Joan Comolli in Olean and they married in June 1955. They later moved to Meriden, CT in 1956 where he was hired as an application engineer for AMF Cuno, an engineering company focused on liquid filtration and purification systems. He held various managerial positions at AMF Cuno, eventually becoming Vice President of Engineering in 1969, a position he held until retirement in August 1997. He was a Licensed Professional Engineer in Connecticut and New Hampshire and held many patents in filtration. While residing in Meriden, he served as President of the Board of Education, Board of Directors of Cenvest Bank, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission and Director of the Boys Club. He also was a Church Trustee, Finance Chair, and Moderator for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Meriden. He was involved with the Boy Scouts, a member of Merrymates Theater Group, and a member of the Board of the Meriden Symphony. Following his retirement he and wife Joan moved to Grantham, NH where they lived in the community of Eastman. Bob was very active in the community having served as Chairman of Eastman Community Association Council, Commissioner of Eastman Village Water District, and a member of the Grantham Planning Commission. Bob had many interests including reading, sailing, golfing, tennis and playing bridge. He loved classical and jazz music and dancing with his favorite partner, Joan. In addition, he repaired and refinished furniture for family and to sell in his daughter Karen’s store. In his earlier years he played clarinet and saxophone in high school and college bands. Bob was a man of great integrity and a true gentleman who enjoyed nothing more than having a good laugh with his friends and family. He will be missed. Surviving family members include his wife of 59 years, Joan Barnes, a son David Barnes (Laura), daughter Nancy Eason (Don), daughter Karen Moses (Bruce); four grandchildren, Bronwen Everett (Nathan), Brendan Eason, Cullen Eason (Kinsey) and Julia Frisch; two step grandchildren, Ryan and Alex Trowbridge; and great grandson, Owen Everett. Funeral services are private. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, in Milford, NH. A memorial service will be planned in the future.