Robert Varndell Obituary

C. Robert Varndell MT. PLEASANT - C. Robert Varndell, husband of Elinor Power Varndell of Mt. Pleasant, SC, passed away on Tuesday October 13, 2009 surrounded by those who loved him. The relatives and friends of Charles Robert Varndell are invited to attend his Memorial Service at the Rodenberg Chapel, Franke at Seaside on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR. INC., MT. PLEASANT CHAPEL. The family will receive friends at Franke at Seaside following the service. Bob was born July 5, 1924 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, son of the late J. Richard Varndell and Ruth Brown Varndell. Bob graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1946. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, an honorary engineering fraternity. A Life Member of ASCE in the grade of "Fellow," Bob had 50 consecutive years as a registered engineer in Maryland. His career in engineering started with the MD State Roads Commission from 1946 until 1950, and was employed by the Alaska Railroad in the Bridge Engineer's Office from 1950 until 1952. He returned to Baltimore and was associated with Rummel, Klepper and Kahl, becoming a partner from 1968 to 1987, when he retired. Major projects with which he was involved included the Sidney R. Murray Hydro Power Plant near Vidalia, LA; WMATA Transit System in Washington, DC, and several hundred bridges including the crossing of Choptank River at Cambridge, MD. Bob was married to the former Elinor Power of Laurens, SC and Washington, DC, in 1954. They lived in Catonsville, MD for forty years, before moving to Blakehurst Retirement Community in Towson, MD in 1997, and later to Franke at Seaside in Mt. Pleasant, SC in 2006. Bob held offices in church organizations more often as Financial Secretary. After moving to SC, they became members of Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivans Island. Bob enjoyed outdoor activities, especially hunting in ME and western MD. His prize bagging was a moose in 1993. He is survived by his wife, Elinor Varndell of Mt. Pleasant, SC; daughter, Carolyn Varndell of Mt. Pleasant, SC; son, John Varndell and his wife, Billie of Littleton. CO: two grandchildren, Rachel and Bradley, both of Littleton, CO; step-grandson, Jesse Newman of Littleton, CO; three other step-grandchildren, Josh and Jordan Newman of CO, and Jade Newman of South Bend, IN; a brother-in-law, Lewis Power and his wife, Sandra of Laurens, SC; niece, Sandy Power of Blacksburg, VA; nephew, Howard Power and his wife, Cindy of Simpsonville, SC; two grandcats, Bud and Peppy; and a host of friends in Baltimore, MD. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths