Robert C. Trimmer, age 87 years, of Kingwood Township, NJ, died peacefully at home on Monday, July 24, 2023, surrounded by his loving family and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born on July 15, 1936, in High Bridge, NJ, he was the son of the late William N. Trimmer Sr., and Elnora M. Bittenbender Trimmer. Growing up in High Bridge and Frenchtown, NJ, Bob would later live in Manville, NJ, for 27 years, before returning to his roots in Hunterdon County, living in Kingwood Township, where he would spend the remainder of his life.

Graduating from Frenchtown High School in 1954, he began working at the Puritan Luncheonette, owned by his father, located across the street from the high school, in 1950, and continued there until 1958. During this time he also worked for Kerr Chickeries in Frenchtown and for Adventure Unlimited in the Canadian Bush as a guide, alongside Homer Hicks and Leonard Lee Rue III.

Joining the United States Air Force in 1958, Bob would serve until 1961 when he was honorably discharged. He would then continue for the next three years as a member of the United States Air Force Reserves.

Bob joined the Boy Scouts in 1948, at age 12, and was an active member until 1981. With scouting being an important part of his life, he supported his daughters when they joined the Girl Scouts and he volunteered as an Assistant Girl Scout Leader for his eldest daughters’ troop when she was young. He also was there for his granddaughters when they became involved with scouting.

Bob had many hobbies and interests, with genealogy tracing being one of them. He and his father actively traced the entire family with Bob diving deeply into research, with due diligence, in person, through interviews, taking notes and even taking his daughters with him to cemeteries with notebooks in hand to get names and date of ancestors. His oldest daughter also took up that hobby, and worked with him to continue documenting the family ancestry. As he aged, he was amazed and appreciated the use of computers and various sites online for research, and how quickly connections could be made.

Bob was also an artist, taking after his father, and created many beautiful paintings over the years. He did them mainly early on in life when he had time, but over the years continued to draw which kept his natural gift in use. His artistic gift was then passed on through several generations who honor his legacy well.

If you knew Bob, you knew he never went anywhere without his instant disposable camera. He loved capturing every moment on film, and when it came back from the developers, he would always share a copy with whomever was either in the picture, or at the event that was photographed. These cherished, non-digital, and tangible memories Bob was proud to share with those around him, and everyone was always very appreciative of his thoughtful gesture.

A hunter, Bob was a part of a group of men known as “O’Rourke’s Hunters”. They enjoyed their yearly hunting trip each October and the friendship bonds that were forged created lifelong friends.

Bob was a longtime and detailed collector of State Police and police, fire and EMS municipalities/township patches. He set up his display of patches and other police, fire, and EMS memorabilia at the Frenchtown Night Out and Kingwood Township Community Day for many years for which he was well known.

Bob cherished his family and always enjoyed spending time with them whenever possible; whether it be family vacations, birthdays, picnics, holidays, camping trips, hikes, or even simply Sunday rides, where you may end up eating at Hot Dog Johnny’s, Jimmy’s Custard stand, Daz O’ Dell, or Etzel’s and then ultimately ending up at his parents, his in-laws, or siblings’ homes, it was all memorable.

Bob worked at Sears in Somerville, NJ, for thirty-two years, 1961 to 1993. This is where he met his wife Sylvia, whom he married in 1963. Living in Manville, it was here where they would raise their two daughters.

In 1991, Sylvia and Bob moved onto their dream property in Kingwood Township where they enjoyed life together, and with family and friends. Bob continued working for another fifteen years at the Croton Texaco gas station from 1993 to 2008, where he never failed to make conversation with most every customer, give lollipops to their kids and biscuits to their dogs. After his years there, he finally decided to officially retire, to spend more time with his wife, family, and focus on his varied hobbies and interests.

Bob was a longtime member of the American Legion Post 113, Frenchtown, NJ. He was also a member of the Kingwood Township Historical Society, and for a few years served as their secretary. He was a member of Kingwood Township Merry Mixers. Loving bluegrass and country music, he frequented the Heartland Hayride, and greatly enjoyed going to hear Travis Wetzel, of the Travis Wetzel Trio many times at the Red Mill in Clinton. After the passing of his wife, he started going to Arties Bar & Grill to hang out with friends, sipping on that one soda of Sprite all night long, listening to country bands playing there, like Dave’s RealCountry with Dave Bond, and The Reel to Real Country Band. He also cherished being with his friends for Thursday Line Dancing with DJ Shar.

Bob lived his life fully, remaining humble to the end. To honor Bob, is to spend more time with the ones you love most in the world, making memories.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his  uncle, John F. Trimmer; his siblings, Kathleen Trimmer Hoffman and John D. Trimmer; and his cousin, Glenn Robinson.

Surviving are his brother, William N. Trimmer, Jr. and his wife, Marie; a sister-in-law, Janice Santos; his daughters, Angela Bennett and her husband, Ernest, and Coleen Rounsaville and her companion, Ken Rogers; his grandchildren, Leo F. Ryan IV and his wife, Toni, Kristin Ryan and her husband, Zach Johnson, Alexandra Rounsaville and her boyfriend, Brandon, Harleigh Bennett, and Doug Laughlin; his great grandchildren, Arya Johnson, Alice Bennett, and Kiera Mathews;  his nieces and nephews, William N. Trimmer III and his wife, Amy Jo, Joanne Miller and her husband, Troy, Laura Trimmer Tapp, and Russell Britt and his wife, Jeanette; his great nieces and nephews; Tyler Miller and his wife, Julie, Jennifer Miller, Ashlee Miller, Katie Tapp, Charlie Seeley, Ryan Britt, and Leah Britt; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Bob will lie in repose on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. There will be an additional period of visitation on Thursday, August 10, 2023, from 10:00-10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

Life celebration services officiated by Life Celebrant D.J. Wright will take place on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home and to which all are welcome. If you are unable to attend the service but would like something read on your behalf please click HERE to send an email to the funeral home.

Burial with military honors will follow the service at Lower Valley Union Cemetery, 445 High Bridge Califon Road, Califon, NJ, and again, all are welcome to attend.

The family will also be holding an extra fun “Celebration of Life” on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, from 6:00-10:00 p.m., at Artie’s Bar & Grill, 1121 NJ 12, Frenchtown, NJ 08825. Please come and celebrate with them!

You are encouraged to visit Bob’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the Frenchtown American Legion Post #113, 510 Harrison Street, Frenchtown, NJ 08825. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by the family.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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