Robert “Bob” Runyon Stout, 95, of Dennis, MA died at Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, MA on April 17, 2020 of Covid-19 complications. He was the beloved husband of Joan Windfeldt (Pagano) Stout. Bob was born on March 19, 1925, in Plainfield, NJ, to Arthur and Josephine (Culburtson) Stout, the youngest of three sons.
 

He graduated from Plainfield High School and went directly into the Army to serve overseas during World War II. On the way to The Battle of the Bulge, his troopship, The SS Leopoldville, was torpedoed while crossing the English Channel to France, and was sunk by a German submarine on December 24, 1944. Christmas with his family was always so meaningful for him in later years – perhaps having thought on that night in 1944 that he would never celebrate another one again. After the war, he graduated from Rutgers University. He met Joan Windfeldt Pagano on a New Year's Eve blind date and married her, the true love of his life, in June 1955. Together they lived in Plainfield for many years raising their five children. Bob started his own successful business, Print Finishing Systems, and began a lifelong hobby of restoring antique cars, completing his last restoration of his favorite car, a 1941 Ford 'Woody, while in his 90s.
 

Bob devoted himself to community service by serving as a Plainfield City Councilman for many years. He was also very active in the life of his church in Plainfield, Crescent Avenue Presbyterian, acting as deacon and trustee. He enjoyed vacations with his family at the Jersey Shore until his love of Cape Cod finally brought him to settle in Dennis. Bob and Joan found a little yellow house near the sea and renovated it from the ground up to create a place that became the home compass for their children and grandchildren. While living in Dennis, he was on the executive board of The Village Improvement Society, and a member of the Dennis Housing Authority, committed to ensuring safe and affordable housing for low income persons. Bob also participated as a driver with Meals on Wheels for over a decade and always ensured friendly conversation and companionship for his “clients” in addition to the meals he delivered. In his leisure time, Bob looked forward to attending the many musical programs the Cape has to offer, as well as the performances at the Dennis Playhouse. He was also involved with the Cape Cod Museum of Art and the Dennis Union Church. Bob and Joan also loved traveling and had their favorite places to visit in England, Italy, Switzerland, Maine and Charleston, SC.
 

Right up until the time of his death Bob was an avid student of history, a voracious reader, and followed national and local politics closely. He expressed his knowledge of history, politics and sense of community in many a “Letter to the Editor” in the Cape Cod Times, his last one published a month shy of his 95^th birthday. Bob loved telling stories, sharing a good joke, lending an ear or a hand to anyone in need, working on challenging jigsaw puzzles, and especially enjoying good books and fellowship with his dear friends at his book club meetings.
 

Above all Bob was a man defined by his devotion to his wife and love for his family, including his children, nine grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was beloved by Joan, his wife of 65 years, who survives him and his children Robert Stout and his wife, Susan, of Madison, CT, Leslie Stout-Tabackman and her husband ,Steven, of McLean, VA, Susan (Stout) Spahr and her husband,  Tom, of East Hampton, NY, and Laura (Stout) Haga and her husband, David, of Arlington, VA. He was predeceased by his son, David Stout. Bob loved being a grandfather and was “Pop Pop” to his grandchildren Amanda and Zachary, Alexa, Robert, Julia and Lia, and Gretchen, Samantha and Owen.

 

A memorial service in celebration of Bob's life will be planned for a future time.  Contributions in his memory may be made to the Dennis Union Church, P. O. Box 2020, Dennis, MA 02638 or the Cape Cod Museum of Art, Hope Lane, Dennis, MA 02638.

 

Hi there, My condolences to the family. From what I have read, Mr Stout sounds like an amazing man with a real passion for life. My name is Sebastian Grace, and I'm a Political Science and Journalism undergraduate at Northeastern University, Boston. I am writing to enquire about the possibility of arranging some interviews to help me write an obituary about Mr Stout. This obituary will be included in The Boston Globe elegies project, an attempt to celebrate and immortalise the state's victims of COVID-19. I would very much appreciate hearing from a family member or friend. I can be reached at any time at my e mail, grace.se@northeastern.edu I look forward to connecting soon. My condolences again, and kindest regards, Sebastian Grace

I will love and miss you forever Dad~