Share: 

Robert 'Bob' Tribbitt, founding DMS member

August 26, 2013

Robert (Bob) L. Tribbitt , 74, of Frankford, passed away peacefully Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. He was born Aug. 30, 1938, in Ridgely, Md., to the late Ralph and Elizabeth (Steen) Tribbitt. He lived most of his life in Frankford.

He graduated from John M. Clayton High School in 1957, where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track. He was selected and played in the 1957 Blue-Gold All Star football game. After graduation, he played on a men’s fast pitch softball team for several years and was known to dig a hole at home plate to “set “his feet. He was a power hitter who almost always hit a home run when he was at the plate. To keep involved in sports, he refereed high school basketball and football for many years.

He retired from the USDA as an engineer technician. He later worked for the Kent County Delaware Soil Conservation, where he also retired. He also served in the Delaware National Guard.

He was a founding member of the Delaware Beach Buggy Association, now known as Delaware Mobile Surf Fishing Inc., and has fought hard for the fisherman in Delaware. He has acted as a liaison between the club and the Delaware Legislature to help preserve beach access and more. He was very active member in the club. He was also a former member of the Delaware Surf Casters. He was also a member of the Assateague Mobile Surf Fishing Assoc., the North Carolina Beach Buggy Assoc. and the North Hampton Anglers Club.

He was a member of the AF&AM Masonic Lodge and a past member of the Burnt Swamp Club. He also served several years on the Indian River School District Board of Education.

He was a very active member of the Frankford Volunteer Fire Co., serving the company for over 48 years. He was a past president and has held many other positions during his time with the company. Bob was also the go to man when it came time for any events that centered around food for the company and one of his most well liked dishes was his famous clam chowder.

His favorite thing to do in life was to go to his beach home in Capeville, Va., get in his boat, and go fishing. He was known as being an excellent fisherman, teaching many a person on how to get the right fishing gear, bait and attitude, in order to catch the big one! He made a “killer pole” for each of his grandchildren so they too could “catch the big one.” He was also known to have a quick wit and has played many a practical joke on people. He had many friends and was well respected by those who knew him. He was always well prepared for any situation as his motto was “better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Clifton (Babe) Tribbitt; and a grandson, baby Brad Wharton Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Joan Mitchell; son Tim and his wife Jane of Ocean View; daughter, Kim Roe and her husband Larry of Frederica; son Keith and his wife Jane of Dagsboro; daughter Tracy Wharton and her husband Brad of Frankford; grandchildren, Jennifer Hitchens and her husband Brian, Tiffany and Kyle Tribbitt, Tyler Tribbitt and his wife Abbe, Matthew Tribbitt and Brittany and Taylor Wharton; and his great-grandchild, Luke Hitchens. He is also survived by his brother George Tribbitt and his wife Jo; his brother Butch Tribbitt and his wife Brenda; and his sister Carole Thielemann.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Frankford Volunteer Fire Co., 5 Main Street, Frankford, where friends and family are invited to offer their condolences beginning at 10 a.m., with the memorial service beginning at noon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Frankford Vol. Fire Co, PO Box 99, Frankford, DE 19945, or to the Delaware Mobile Surf Fishing Inc., PO Box 455, Dagsboro, DE 19939.

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter