ROBERT (BOB) WILLIAM STOKES Sept. 19, 1932 – May 9, 2022
Robert (Bob) William Stokes, 89, was surrounded by his loving family when he passed away May 9, 2022. We lost him suddenly and are incredibly heart broken. He was still so vibrant and full of life. His compassion and kindness was unmatched and something we’ll always remember. His support and unconditional love for his children, grandchildren and beautiful bride of 60 years, his wife and our Mom, never wavered. You felt it. Always.
He was born September 19, 1932, in Wheat Ridge, CO to Naomi E. (Bailey) and George W. Stokes. He grew up there and graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in 1950. He attended Colorado State for a year before entering the Navy. When he finished his military duties, he was accepted at University of Colorado in 1955 to begin studying towards his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. It was at this time he met the love of his life on a blind date. She was a cute spirited young woman named Shirley Ann Miller. They fell in love and married Sept. 4, 1955. He graduated from CU in 1958 with a BS in Chemical Engineering. They started growing their family at this time. They had five children and raising them became the passion of their lives.
He began his career at Beechcraft R&D in Boulder, CO in 1958. From there he worked at Lawrence National Laboratory in Livermore, CA and Las Vegas, NV before spending the rest of his successful career at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM. He finished his career as a Group Leader and Assistant Division Leader that led a group of engineers and physicists on a national proton beam accelerator project. He retired from LANL in 1993 where he had worked for 25 years. They moved to Colorado Springs to be closer to family and lived there 27 years.
Bob was a devoted loving husband Dad Grandpa Great-Grandpa and Father-in-law. He was constantly reading to keep up on world events, but his true love was knowing what each family member was doing, interested in and dreaming of. He would surprise you with what he knew about each of us and the details he recalled from the conversations of yesterday, last week, or last month. His empathetic soul embraced the different views held by the multiple generations within his growing family. He was always connected.
While the pain of losing him is heart wrenching, we know it is only because we’ve been blessed with the most precious of gifts, a deep love for our Dad/Grandpa. The memories we share are priceless and will forever warm our hearts. The ache of losing him will eventually fade into pure gratitude for being blessed to have had a Dad/Grandpa like him and the incredible bond we all shared.
Thank you to our dear friends and family for your love, support, cards, messages, flowers and prayers. So grateful for each and every one of you.
He is survived by:
Son-Kirk and wife Lisa, of Denver, CO, their children Sean, Connor (wife Brittany children Emmy and Cayden), Ryan and Connor “OC”.
Son-Kyle and wife Diana of Los Alamos, NM, their children Brittany (husband Devin children Celia and Thatcher) Jessica (husband CJ children Jaxon Jeremy Lily and Jonah) and Brady.
Daughter-Karen and husband Jack Domme of Colorado Springs, CO, their children Simone, Kelsey, Monique (husband Trevor Moore) and Courtney.
Son-Kris and wife Lisa of Colorado Springs, CO, children Foley and Jordan.
Daughter-Kelly and her husband Steve Peterschmidt of Colorado Springs, CO, children Zach and Bailey.
There will be a private family celebration of life.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to University of Colorado Hospital Foundation: (303)752-8120.
Robert (Bob) William Stokes and wife Shirley Ann Stokes. Courtesy photo
