Robert Alan Barnes, veteran, city of Lewes retiree

Robert Alan Barnes passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Beebe Healthcare, Lewes. Bob was born Feb. 3, 1955, at York, Pa. Hospital to the late Joseph R. and Jean M. (Diehl) Barnes.

 

Bob was baptized and confirmed in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, York, where his family faithfully attended. Whether it was Sunday School, Summer Bible School, Youth Choir, or Youth Group, you could guarantee a Barnes kid was there. Bob was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, Troop 19 at St. Paul's. As a youngster, he would earn his own money delivering the York Dispatch six days a week in rain, sleet, or snow.

 

Bob graduated from York High School Class of 1973, where he played baseball. Bob started playing Little League when he was 8 for the Salvation Army and played through American Legion IBEW 229, mainly as a catcher. He coached Little League when he moved to Delaware. When you grew up in York, you were an Orioles fan. Somewhere along the way, Bob became a diehard Minnesota Twins fan as well as a Minnesota Vikings football fan. He also enjoyed a good round of golf.

 

After graduation, Bob chose to serve his country in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was an electronics technician 2nd class and was responsible for radar, as well as assisting with disabled boat rescues. A proud Coastie, his duty stations took him to Sitka, Alaska, and Hawaii, where the ship was dry-docked and they were put up in condos, in Governor's Island, N.Y., where he learned the ins and outs of the city along with OTB, then finally Indian River, where he fell in love with the area.

 

He began his career working for the utility division of the City of Lewes (Board of Public Works), first working in the power plant, and eventually moved to the electric department, where he retired as superintendent of the department. He faithfully served the utility division for 39 years in all kinds of weather to ensure the lights stayed on, and if they went out due to the storms, wind, rain, or snow, he and his crew responded to ensure the outage was as short as possible. After retiring, he worked as a general manager at Shell We Golf, meeting and greeting miniature golfers and doing maintenance work.

He was a member of Lewes Presbyterian Church for 30 years. He and his wife later felt called to serve and become members of Long Neck Methodist Church, where he was a trustee and also known as the "weatherman" for several summers when outdoor church was held from May to September.

 

Bob was also a member of American Legion Post 28.

 

He is preceded in death by his mother and father; his brother, Joseph (Joey) Barnes; brother-in-law, Raymond Bunnell; father-in-law, Tony Lorah; and recently, his daughter, Lindsay.

 

Bob is survived by his wife of 35 years, Denise (Lorah) Barnes; daughter, Elizabeth; mother-in-law, Margaret Lorah; brother-in-law, David Lorah (Bobbi Jo), and their children Josh, Hailey and Kayla Lorah; sisters, Myrna and Judy Barnes; brother, James Barnes (Beth); nephews, Chris Barnes (Donna), and their children Matthew, Morgan, and Jenna Barnes, and Shane Bunnell; and niece, Becky Buchalla (Markus) and daughter Lena. He also leaves behind his beloved grand-dog Molly.

 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 26, at Long Neck Methodist Church, 32051 Long Neck Road, Millsboro. A time of visitation will begin at noon. A reception will follow in the church hall.

 

Interment with an honor guard will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 26669 Patriots Way, Millsboro.

 

Online condolences can be made to the family at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.