Robert Fredric Rowntree

1930 - 2008  (78 years)

• Name	Robert Fredric Rowntree
  Born	8 Feb 1930	Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Died	17 Oct 2008	Fairfield, Jefferson Co, Iowa, USA   [1]
  Buried	cremated
  Person ID	I1912	Decker Family Tree
  Last Modified	11 Oct 2019

  
  

  Father	Richardson Henry Rowntree,   d. Bef 17 Oct 2008
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Majorie Priscella Davidson,   d. Bef 17 Oct 2008
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F670	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Esther Helen Raymond,   b. 28 Jun 1929, Pennsylvania, USA ,   d. 2018  (Age 88 years)
  Married	20 Jan 1956  [1]
  Children	1. W. Rowntree   2. R. Rowntree
  Last Modified	11 Oct 2019
  Family ID	F669	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Robert Fredric Rowntree died peacefully of old age at the SunnyBrook Assisted Living in Fairfield, IA on Friday 17 Oct 2008. Robert was born in Columbus, OH on 8 Feb 1930. He was the only child of Richardson Henry Rowntree and Majorie Priscella Davidson, both deceased. He married Esther Helen Rowntree on 20 Jan 1956 and they were together until his death. He graduated from high school in the Philippines, where his father served on the Philippines Reparations Commission, and then traveled alone via cargo ship from Manila, with adventures in Indonesia and India, then through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, to attend Miami University (Ohio), where he completed a double major in mathematics and physics. His education continued with a Master's degree in public administration from Syracuse University and doctorate in physics from Ohio State University, where he continued post doctoral research until May of 1963. He was an active member of the US Army for two years during the Korean war. He worked for 27 years at the country's largest weapons research laboratory at China Lake, CA in the upper Mojave desert in California. Bob considered his principle career skill as "understanding complex technology and environments, elucidating the critical features in their futures, and communicating findings and suggestions to diverse constituencies". He was always recognizable at work as "the one wearing the bow tie" and instituted 'Purple Shirt Friday' at Michelson Laboratories. He once described his job as "Helping the rocket scientists with stuff they didn't understand in Washington, DC, and what one another were doing". When he retired in May 3, 1989, he received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award, the second highest honorary award the Navy can confer on a civilian employee. At home he was able to fix anything from small appliances to cars and passed his 'can-do' attitude along to his sons. He always spent free time with his family, whether quiet days at home, weekend 4-wheeling in the desert, visiting museums, spending the day at the horse races, or extensive international trips. After retiring Bob and Esther moved to San Luis Obispo, CA, where Bob volunteered extensively among other activities doing repairs on the SLO County General Hospital (the maintenance department being overwhelmed caring for the aging facility), was a member of the SLO County Commission on Aging and wrote and published newsletters for several senior organizations. He was instrumental in organizing the Society for Counter Ordnance Technology, a national group working to apply technology to the worldwide problem of clearing landmines, and was assistant organizer of the biannual international symposia for this group. He is survived by his wife Esther, residing in Fairfield, IA, their two sons Walter of Pacatello, ID and Raymond of Portland, OR; and a granddaughter Lindsey of Portland, OR. Published in The Daily Independent, Ridgecrest, CA 4 Nov 2008.

  
  

• Sources

  [S16] Obituary.