Robert Fielder Fountain, III

Kill Devil Hills-Robert Fielder Fountain, III, 79, died on Thursday, April 30, 2009 surrounded by his family, at his home in Kill Devil Hills. Bob was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Fountain, Jr. of Asbury Park, New Jersey. He graduated from Admiral Farragut Academy and Lehigh University.  Bob married Frances Sheehan of Brooklyn, NY.  After serving as captain in the U.S. Army, Bob built a distinguished career working with DuPont deNemours & Co in Seaford, DE, Martinsville, VA, Camden, SC, and Wilmington, DE, retiring as personnel superintendent in Waynesboro, VA.  The couple retired to the Outer Banks in 1987.  Bob and Fran were members of Holy Redeemer by the Sea Catholic Parrish.  In his retirement years, Bob and Fran enjoyed spending quality time with their children, grandchildren and friends.  Bob served as a charter member of the Catholic Men’s Group and the Kill Devil Hills Board of Adjustment.

A wise man once said, “There are no strangers; only friends I haven’t met.”  That was surely Bob Fountain’s outlook on life.  Bob didn’t make friends easily, he made them instantly.  At the bank, at the post office, on the golf course, or at the tennis courts, wherever he was, whoever he met, Bob always took the time to strike up a conversation.  And if the person he met happened to be a woman, she got his standard greeting – “Hiya, darlin’! How’s it goin’?”

At home, Bob was a much-loved host to lots of friends and relatives, along with friends of friends and relatives of relatives. No one ever left Bob’s home a stranger; many left feeling like family, even if they weren’t.  Bob always made everyone who came to his home feel like the most important person he was going to meet that day.  All were made welcome by his relaxed brand of friendship, his unique sense of humor, and his habit of including his guests in his everyday activities, whether it was checking the crab traps at the end of the dock or a game of shuffleboard at Slammin’ Sammy’s.

Besides his wife Fran, Bob leaves seven children – Flossie Harvie, Columbia, SC, Geof, Aiken SC, Chris, Staunton, VA, Laura Holmes, Southern Shores, NC, Kathy Tabb, Norfolk, VA, David, Miami, FL, and Tricia Wilkinson, Nags Head, NC – eleven grandchildren, sister Sandra Schock and husband Bud, Stuart, FL, brother Rodney Ross and wife Shelley, New Port Richey, FL, sisters-in-law Liz Sheehan, NJ and Sister Mary Sheehan, CT, brother-in-law Michael Sheehan and wife Ellen, NJ, and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and very treasured friends.  Bob was predeceased by sisters Jane Hale and Susan O’Brien of New Jersey.The family will receive friends and relatives at Gallop Funeral Services beach chapel Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 7 to 9 pm. The Fountain family will hold a memorial celebration Monday, May 4, 2009 at Holy Trinity Catholic Parrish in South Nags Head, at 1 pm. Father Ed Fitzpatrick will be the celebrant. Interment with military honors will be held at a future date. Memorial tributes in Bob’s memory may be made to Dare Home Health & Hospice.  Gallop Funeral Services, Nags Head is entrusted with arrangements. Condolences to the Fountain family may be made at www.gallopfuneralservices.com.