Commander Robert “Bob” Evans Fellowes, USN (Ret.), of Williamsburg, VA, passed away on May 24.
Bob was born in Westfield, NJ, on July 21, 1927. The family moved to Tucson, AZ when he was 9. After graduating from Tucson High School, he spent one year at the University of Arizona from Tucson High School in 1944 and received a congressional appointment to enter the United States Naval Academy in 1945.
Following graduation in June 1949, he was stationed on USS Randall (APA-224, home ported at Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach) until entering flight training in 1950. He received his wings in November 1951, served in two anti-submarine squadrons: VS-22 and VS-32, and was Commanding Officer of VRC-40 Carrier Onboard Delivery. He served on USS Randolph (CVS-15) as Navigator, then as Executive Officer, and was Commanding Officer when the ship was decommissioned in 1969.
In the summer of 1954, Bob married Mary Jane Rumfelt in Norfolk, VA, prior to entering the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He received a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from M.I.T. in 1957 and was a member of Sigma Xi, a Scientific and Engineering Research Honor Society.
After his retirement from the Navy in 1975, Bob studied accounting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, and then worked for a C.P.A. firm in Virginia Beach until 1979, at which time he joined the faculty of Christopher Newport College (now University) in Newport News, VA, where he taught Accounting until retirement in 1995.
In addition to his wife of 68 years, Bob is survived by 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren: Ted and his wife Dagmar and their 3 children: Peter, Thomas and Elisabeth; Lisa, (Jim Keck) their son Ryan; Paul, his two daughters, Tori and Jane; and David (Monica).
Bob was preceded in death by both of his brothers, RADM Frederick G. Fellowes, USN, (retired), USNA Class of ’53; and CAPT John H. Fellowes, USN (retired), USNA Class of ’56.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Williamsburg House of Mercy or the charity of your choice.
A funeral mass will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
Online condolences may be shared here.
