Obituary of Robert Guy

Robert (Bob) Edward Guy Sr., passed peacefully on March 8, 2014 in his home in Marion, Virginia, surrounded by family. He was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 28, 1920 and was the second son of the late Dolph Andrew Guy, Sr. and Mary Ellen Robinson Guy. He attended Cathedral Boys High School and Springfield Junior College before moving to St. Louis to follow his passion and begin a career in the aviation industry. His love of aviation began at the age of seven when he saw Lindbergh fly into Springfield on his celebration flight. He spent a great deal of his teenage years at the Springfield airport, helping "Murphy" repair planes. In 1937 he accepted the invitation to 'go up for a ride' with a woman barnstormer, Adelaide O'Brien and he was hooked. In 1939 he was accepted into the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) and earned his pilot's license in 1940. He also graduated from the CPTP aerobatics program, flying the bi-wing open cockpit Meyers OTW and the 135 HP Fleet. From 1941 to 1944 he worked for Curtiss-Wright in St. Louis, building center panel and outer panel wings for the SB2C, A25 and the C-55. He left Curtiss-Wright in 1944 to enlist in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He became a flight engineer on a B-25 and was stationed in Waco, Texas. On September 15, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Rose Elshoff, from Springfield, Illinois. Together they would raise seven children. Following the war he returned to St. Louis to attend Washington University graduating in 1948 with his Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering. While a student at Washington University he held many school records for track, basketball and football and was always proud of the fact that the infamous Weeb Ewbank was his football coach. Following graduation he would return to his passion for aviation. He joined McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis and would become a Senior Planner, leading projects such as the evaluation of propellers at super sonic speeds working on the XF-88. He joined the Defense Division of Brunswick in Muskegon, Michigan in 1954 and became the Supervisor of Project Engineering, designing various aspects of the Boeing B-52, the Lockheed B-47 and the Boeing 707. His career with Brunswick would bring him to Marion, Virginia in 1958, to lead the development of radomes with their new filament winding process. In Marion he became the Chief Project Engineer and the Chief Tool Designer for all projects for the Defense Division. His 35-year career with Brunswick would provide him the opportunity to work on over 32 major defense projects including radomes for the C-130, the Boeing 707, the F-104. However, he was particularly fond of three projects, the SR-71, the B-1 Bomber and the Lunar Excursion Module (LEM). He often referred to the SR-71 as "the mostest" aircraft ever built and he felt a particular pride in the accomplishment of the plane. He was pleased to tell you that the B-1 actually had 14 radomes and 13 of them were built in Marion, Virginia and few people know that every mission that landed on the moon was equipped with a radome built by Brunswick in Marion, Virginia. Those who knew Bob would agree that he had a brilliant mind and a passion for knowledge. He had a special talent for gathering data and solving problems. Throughout his career, he found great joy in mentoring young engineers. He valued the opportunity to serve his community and was a devoted member of St. John's Catholic Church. He also served Smyth County for almost 20 years as a member of the Industrial Development Authority. He was a strong supporter of the Red Cross, and gave blood each time he was eligible for almost 70 years. He was a master bridge player and loved the challenge of the game. He played with several bridge clubs and served as the treasurer of the George Kirk Duplicate Bridge Club for many years. Following the death of his wife, Phyllis, he married Frances Kathleen Daly on December 12, 1968. He is preceded in death by both of his wives, his parents, Dolph Andrew Guy, Sr. and Mary Ellen Robinson Guy, his brother, Dolph Andrew Guy, Jr, a daughter, Patricia Ann Guy Werth and his grand daughter, Sally McGavock Werth. He is survived by six of his seven children, Robert Edward Guy, Jr. and his wife Marilyn of Phoenix, Arizona; his son-in-law, Father Frederick Morrison Werth, Jr., of Mars Hill, North Carolina, Mary Guy Miller and her husband, James King of Blacksburg, Virginia; Michelle Guy DeBord of Rural Retreat, Virginia; Timothy Anthony Andrew Guy of Ladson, South Carolina; James Arthur Guy and his wife Linda of Mobile, Alabama; Nancy Guy McDonald and her husband David, of Mt. Dora, Florida. Sixteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren also survive him. The family will receive guests at Seaver Brown Funeral Home in Marion Virginia, on Friday, March 14, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary to follow at 8:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John's Catholic Church on Saturday, March 15th, at 11:00 a.m. with Father Frances Musolooza and Father Dan Bain officiating followed by a luncheon in the church hall. Robert Guy will be buried in Calvary Cemetery in Springfield, IL on April 11th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Robert's devotion to giving blood to the Smyth County American Red Cross, the family would request donations be made to the American Red Cross, Mountain Empire Chapter, 14298 Lee Hwy., Bristol, VA 24202, or the Clerics of St. Viator, 1212 E. Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, Ill, 60004. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Guy Family.