J. Robert “Bob” Rankin, Jr., 79 of Manchester, NH, died Friday, March 24, 2006 in the Villa Crest Healthcare Center, Manchester following a 19 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Mr. Rankin was born in Atlanta, GA on December 10, 1926, a son of the late John R. and Lois (Wilkinson) Rankin. He was a resident of Manchester since 2001, formerly living in Piscataway, NJ for 49 years. Mr. Rankin played semi-pro baseball and had been offered a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals prior to his serving with the US Navy during WWII. Following the war he received his degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and received his Masters Degree from the University of Oklahoma. He worked for GE in Pittsfield, MA as a Test Engineer following his graduation from Georgia Tech. He married Mary L. Wyand on October 9, 1948 in Pittsfield. Mr. Rankin went on to teach Electrical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma for three years and at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey for 44 years. He enjoyed coaching winning Little League baseball teams in the 1960’s. He also enjoyed traveling with his wife, Mary, and together they went to London, Scotland, Paris, Alaska, other destinations in the USA and also to many Elderhostel destinations, even after becoming ill. They were also active in square dancing clubs in NJ and camping with trailer camping groups. When his health allowed, he attended the Fellowship Bible Church of Chester, since Oct. 2001.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary L. (Wyand) Rankin of Manchester, four sons, Robert W. Rankin and his wife Karen of Austin, TX, John D. Rankin and his wife Lynne of Pennington, NJ, James R. Rankin and his wife Linda of Warsaw, IN, William S. Rankin and his wife Susan of Derry, NH, a daughter, Anne K. Pfannkoch and her husband Thomas of Chester, NH, 15 grandchildren, Gregory Rankin and his wife Pamela Pontius of Washington, DC, Tracy Rankin of Austin, TX, Lauren and John Rankin, both of Pennington, NJ, Hillary, Ruth, Robert and Cameron Rankin, all of Warsaw, IN, Heather Rankin of Groveton, NH, Rebecca and Charles Rankin, both of Derry, Laurie Beth, Thomas, David and Julia Pfannkoch, all of Chester. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Amy Kathryn Rankin in 1999.
Visiting hours were held 6-9pm, Sunday, March 26, 2006 in the Peabody Funeral Home and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry. A memorial service was held on Monday, March 27th at 1:00pm in the Fellowship Bible Church, 48 Rod and Gun Club Rd., Chester. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., 1501 NW 9th Ave., Bob Hope Road, Miami, Florida 33136-1494.