Robert "Bob" Leonard Bauer

Robert “Bob” Leonard Bauer of Charlotte, formerly of Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on November 19, 2024 at Aldersgate where he was a longtime resident. 

Bob was born on January 25, 1932, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Anne and Leonard Thomas Bauer.  He attended Springfield High School where he met the love of his life Ellen Meredith Kilpatrick. They were married in the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, PA on June 27, 1953. 

Bob graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1953 earning a BS in Electrical Engineering. At Penn, he played football, ran track and was President of Psi Upsilon fraternity.  He served two years in the Army at Fort Huachuca, AZ.  He and Meredith returned to the Philadelphia area, where Bob joined the family electrical contracting business, L. Bauer Jr. Inc. becoming the President and owner until retirement.

Bob served as President of the Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.  In acknowledgment of his dedicated service to the electrical industry, he received the James H. McGraw Award (1982) and the L.K. Comstock Award (1988) in addition to becoming a Fellow of the Academy of Electrical Contracting.  Bob was a member of Manufacturer’s Golf and Country Club (Ft. Washington, PA) and the Union League of Philadelphia. 

Bob was an avid skier, sailor, and private pilot.  Throughout his life, he shared his enthusiasm for these hobbies with family and friends. There were many memorable family ski trips to the Poconos, Vermont, Colorado and Wyoming.  In pursuit of fresh powder, Bob went on heli-skiing trips in Canada where he experienced the thrill of blazing his own trail. 

He and Meredith loved living on the water, and they enjoyed 17 years hosting gatherings in their beautiful second home in Avalon, NJ.  Bob had a calm and patient demeanor while encouraging family and friends learning to water-ski or sail if the tide was right.  In 1998 he and Meredith moved permanently to Lake Norman in Cornelius, NC where Bob continued his passion of flying and sailing in both the full size and model arenas. He was instrumental in the establishment of Waymer Flying Field in Huntersville, a public model plane flying field.  He and Meredith moved to Aldersgate in 2010 where they made many new friends, enjoyed playing bridge and worked on various committees in the community.   

As Dad and Grandy, he was a supporter and avid fan of anything his children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren were involved in.  His love and pride for them was always evident.  Whether he was cheering on the sidelines at sporting events or traveling afar to attend his grandchildren’s high school and college graduations, he didn’t want to miss anything.  Holidays were especially important to him filled with family and meaningful traditions. 

He is survived by two daughters, Virginia Meredith Hunt and husband James (Charlotte, NC), Ellen Brooke Berg and husband Gordon (Oakland, CA); six grandchildren Allison Meredith Hogan and husband Paul, Kenan Bradley Hunt and husband Kaden Watts, Davis James Hunt and husband Kristopper Cruz, Graham Leonard Hunt, Ellen Haley Berg, Grace Elizabeth Berg; two great grandchildren Declan Brady Hogan and Carrig James Hogan; brother-in-law Robert James Kilpatrick, Sr. and wife Danary Pan; and his beloved cat Piper.  In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his loving wife Meredith in December 2014. 

The family would like to express its appreciation to the caregivers at Aldersgate at Home and Asbury Health & Rehabilitation Center in Charlotte for their wonderful compassion in caring for Bob. 

A celebration of Bob’s life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Bob’s honor to the Humane Society of Charlotte, the American Heart Association or to a charity of your choice.