Robert E, Beames

Robert E. Beames of the Sweet Valley area passed away peacefully June 24 at the Hospice of Geisinger South Hospital in the company of his family.

He was born on September 19, 1928 in New Market, NJ, son of the late Cyril and Rose Hegney Beames. An engineering graduate of the New York State Maritime Academy, Bronx, New York, Robert was a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and retired after a career as an engineer for General Electric Company. With many patents to his credit, he was responsible for designing and producing this nation?s first generation of CORONA satellites, reentry vehicles for the Apollo Space Program, and Voyager 1, the first man-made object to leave our solar system. He finished his career as a manager in the Nuclear Energy Division of GE.

Robert was preceded in death by his loving wife of 33 years Maureen, his sister Grace Bowman, and brother, Art. Surviving are his loving wife of 18 years, Barbara, son Mark and wife Patricia Carley of Rockville, MD, son Lt Col Charles Beames, U.S. Air Force, of Arlington, VA; daughter Kathleen Wolf and husband Patrick Wolf of Fayetteville, AR, and daughter Mary Beames of Bethlehem, PA and seven grandchildren. Also surviving are his stepsons Raymond Cochrane of Boise, ID; Michael Cochrane of Colfax, WA; James Cochrane of Gales Ferry, CT, John Cochrane of Quakertown, PA, seven step grandchildren and one step great-grandson.

Robert was a lifelong Catholic, and parishioner at Our Lady of Victory Cathlic Church, Harvey?s Lake, PA. An evening vigil will be held from 7-9 PM Tuesday June 26, 2007 at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad Street, Bethlehem, PA. A mass will be said at 10 a.m. Wednesday June 27, 2007 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bethlehem, PA with burial immediately following at Resurrection Cemetery, Allentown, PA

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St Vincent DePaul Kitchen of 33 East Northamption Street Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 http://stvincentwb.org/