Robert E. Whitworth September 10, 1925 – May 04, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Memorial Donation Robert E. Whitworth, 93, died peacefully on May 4, 2019 at his home in Charlottesville, Va. with family by his side. Robert was the son of Agnes Cole Armour and James Henry Whitworth.
He was born September 10, 1925 and raised in Portsmouth, Ohio. Robert was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Marion, Clara, Dorothy, Agnes, Jean, and his first wife, Judith Ann Moehlman Whitworth. Robert leaves behind his beloved wife, Jane Miller Whitworth; daughters, Karen Shank (Mark), Sandy Bisese (David), Tina Vess Seay; son, Robert Moehlman Whitworth; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren whom he adored.
After graduating from Portsmouth High School in 1943, he entered the U.S. Marine Corps where he served as an airborne radar technician during the war. He left the Marines in 1946. Following his military service he attended Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, he then spent two years at Michigan, and graduated from Ohio University with B.S. degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics.
Robert was hired by Sperry Gyroscope Company as a field engineer in June 1951. He later transferred to the Sperry Piedmont Plant in June of 1956. Robert was the first person to work in this new plant.
He was in the plant to set up the facility to build and test the first missile radar, the SPQ-5A. He often told the story of how the contract with the Navy was the first time the Navy had ever completed a contract on time and on budget. During his career at Sperry he had many titles, but his favorite and unofficial title to a lot of working people was “Dad”.
He was very proud of the number of his “kids” who were promoted to many management positions. Robert believed that quality was Sperry’s bestselling commodity. He retired from Sperry in 1990 as the Quality Control Manager.
Robert was a member of the First Presbyterian Church on Park Street for 40 years and a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for a number of years. University Baptist Church, now his and Jane’s home church, is where a celebration of life will be held. Robert loved all sports and played softball, baseball, and football in his growing up years.
In later life, he played golf and was a pretty good bowler. He was an ardent UVA sports fan. A celebration of Robert’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at University Baptist Church.
A visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at Hill and Wood Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to The Center, 491 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901 at the University Baptist Church, 1223 Main Street West Charlottesville, VA 22903. SERVICES Celebration of Life Wednesday, May 15, 2019 2:00 PM University Baptist Church 1223 West Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 Get Directions on Google Maps A visitation will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at Hill and Wood Funeral Home.
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