Robert Thomas “Bob” Farrell, 91, of Bay Ridge, Bohannon, Va., passed away on June 28, 2013.
Bob was born on April 22, 1922 in Bridgeport, Conn., to Ralph Guy Farrell and Helen E. Smith Farrell. He grew up in Old Greenwich, and graduated from The Taft School in Watertown, Conn. in 1940.
After graduation, Bob attended Yale University, School of Engineering, class of 1944. World War II interrupted his schooling and he entered the U.S. Army in 1943, earning the rank of Tech Sergeant. He served as a radar repairman and was awarded the Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the American Theater Campaign Ribbon. He was discharged in 1946. Returning to Yale, he received a B.S. degree in Industrial Administration.
During the Korean War, Bob worked for the Commerce Department as a Commodity Industry Analyst at the National Production Authority’s Metals and Minerals Bureau, Aluminum and Magnesium Division in the Sheet, Plate and Foil section.
Bob started working at Fairmont Aluminum Company in 1947, eventually becoming President in 1957. In 1965, he joined Reynolds International, a subsidiary of the Reynolds Metals Company. In 1970 he was promoted to Vice President in charge of Operations, where he was involved in the management of overseas manufacturing plants. He retired from Reynolds in 1984.
On Jan. 15, 1955, Bob married Margaret Claire Fritzsche in Darien, Conn. They raised five children and were married for 27 years, until Margaret’s death in 1982. Bob was a member of the Church of Francis de Sales in Mathews, Va. He traveled extensively overseas and was present at the opening of the U.S. Embassy in China. Bob enjoyed sailing and reading, especially history and biographies. His passion for history is reflected in his membership of several historical organizations, chiefly the Mathews Historical Society, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and the Mystic Seaport Museum.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph G. Farrell and Helen (Smith) Farrell; his wife, Margaret (Fritzsche) Farrell; son, John Guy Farrell; brothers, Ralph Guy Farrell (Viola Grucen) and William H. Farrell; and sister, Helen E. Farrell O’Mara (Edwin O’Mara).
Bob is survived by his children, Margaret (Harry) Taylor of Richmond, Va., Robert T. (Karen) Farrell Jr. of Glencoe, Minn.; Helen (Arthur) Steadman of Geneseo, Ill., and Cornelius S.O. Farrell of Bohannon; grandchildren, Marie (Warren) Belfield, Harry (Joshua) Taylor Jr., Padraig, Liam, and Mairead Steadman; great-grandson, Alex Belfield, and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A visitation was held at Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home in Mathews, from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3. A mass of Christian burial will be held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Va., at 12 noon on Friday, July 5, 2013. Burial will follow at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, 12609 Patterson Avenue, Richmond.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the John G. Farrell Memorial Fund for Performing Arts, The Taft School, 110 Woodbury Road, Watertown, Conn.; the Mathews County Historical Society; or the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Condolences may be left on the Foster-Faulkner Funeral Home online guestbook at http://www.foster-faulkner.com.