After a full and vibrant 90-year life, Robert “Bob” Lee Denison passed away on Saturday October 19, 2024, at Bethany Lutheran Village. Bob was born May 29, 1934, in Rutland Ohio to Carl Lewis Denison and Marcia Myers Denison, who preceded him in death.

Raised in Rutland, he graduated from Rutland High School in 1952. He then studied Electrical Engineering at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, graduating in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree.

While at Ohio University, Bob was a cadet in the Air Force ROTC program. Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation, he was detailed to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base to begin a nearly half-century career in the Flight Dynamics Laboratory. Released from active service in 1960 as a 1st Lieutenant, he transitioned into a civilian career in the same professional role. Bob continued to serve as a reserve officer until his honorable discharge as a Captain in 1972.

In his long Air Force career, he was widely admired as an expert in computer databases related to military aircraft testing, in high-performance electronics and electro-optics, and in high-altitude IR.

Bob was perhaps most proud of his role as a professional mentor – over the decades he aided and guided the careers of scores of young engineers who worked in his laboratory.

Despite working as a full-time engineer and raising three high-energy boys, Bob still found time to complete a Master’s Degree in Engineering at The Ohio State University in 1970, and pursued extensive post-masters coursework there.

From 1964 to 1983 Bob worked in the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, first as an Electrical Engineer and later as an Aerospace Engineer.  In 1983 he moved to the Air Force Materials Laboratory’s Plans Office as a Materials Engineer.  In 1987 he became a Technical Area Manager in the Electromagnetic Materials & Survivability Division.  In 1989, until retirement he was the Branch Chief of the Electronic & Optical Materials Branch, within the Air Force Materials Laboratory.

After retiring from Federal Government service in 2002 (after 45 years!), Bob pursued a second career as a Senior Engineer with Universal Technology Corporation (evolved into ARCTOS in 2020) -working well into his 80’s. His son Greg jokes that when he called his Dad for his 82nd birthday, he missed him because he was at work (true story).

He remained an avid reader of aviation technical and trade literature and remained active in professional engineering societies until his passing.

Bob was equally proud of his family life. While working as a young engineer at Wright-Patt, Bob was reacquainted with his future wife Virgnia (nee Helen Virginia Long) at a Rutland High School reunion in 1957. Not technically high school sweethearts, but close enough for government work (LOL). Married on September 15, 1957, they remained together for 65 years until Virginia’s passing in 2023.

Bob and Virginia have three sons – Jeff, Greg (Pat), and Rod. They remember him as a devoted and loving father, Boy Scout leader, soccer and little league coach, and “band Dad”. He impressed upon them the importance of education and the honor of service (Jeff and Greg are both veterans).

He and Virginia loved traveling together - visiting all seven continents, 65 countries, and 49 US states. His three sons took him on an epic train trip to his 50th state – North Dakota – last year at age 89!