Robert E. "Robin" Farnell III

Robert E. “Robin” Farnell III, 86, of Vienna passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at Mallard Bay Care Center. He was born in Cambridge on July 20, 1934 and was a son of the late Robert E. Farnell, Jr. and Isabel Messick Farnell.

Mr. Farnell graduated from Cambridge High School class of 1952. He then attended  The University of Maryland at College Park and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, he attended the University of Maryland Law School in 1958 and graduated with The Order of the Coif. In October of 1958, he was admitted to practice and open a law office in Cambridge. In 1965 and 1966, he served as a substitute Trial Magistrate and in 1967, he served as Trail Magistrate. From 1967 to 1971, he was an Associate Judge of the People’s Court and had also served as State’s Attorney from February 9, 1977 until January 2, 1979 and was Deputy State’s Attorney from 1991 until 1996. Mr. Farnell had his own private practice from 1958 until 1991. He retired on August 1, 1996. He served in the Maryland Army National Guard. On February 3, 1961, he married the former Mary Ann Murphy. He was a lifelong member of Zion United Methodist Church in Cambridge, where he had taught Sunday School and had served on the Administrative Board. Mr. Farnell served as an instructor for the Easton District Lay Academy for over 20 years. In addition, he served as Lay Leader for the Peninsula Delaware Conference of The United Methodist Church. He was also an Honorary member of Rescue Fire Company and was an Associate Professor at Chesapeake College for over 20 years. The Farnell's would like to thank Mallard Bay Nursing Home and Dr. Johnson for their many years of dedication and support.

He is survived by his wife Rev. Mary Ann Farnell of Vienna, two sons Christopher R. Farnell and wife Kari of Federalsburg, and Rev. Mark W. Farnell and wife Theresa of Kent Island, five grandchildren Meredith Farnell Gray, Christopher Farnell, Alyson Farnell, Zachary Farnell and Joshua Farnell, great grandchildren Maverick and McKenna.

Services will be private due to COVID concerns, however we will be offering a live stream of services on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 11 AM.  Please visit us on our Facebook page for further details. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Zion United Methodist Church General Fund, 612 Locust Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.