ROBERT H. GUESS

Guess, Robert H. SCHENECTADY Robert H. Guess, 86, died peacefully with family at his side in his home in Schenectady, N.Y., on January 7, 2010. Robert (Bob) was born to Louise and Earl Guess on September 5, 1923. Raised in Brookhaven, Miss., he attended Copiah Lincoln Jr. College and received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Tulane University. During World War II, Bob served as an ensign in the Pacific aboard the USS Pine Island and retired from the Naval Reserves as a Lt. j.g. He then taught at Mississippi State University where he met the love of his life, his bride, Martha N. Newton. His engineering took him to Boeing Corporation in Seattle, Wash. and on to the Arnold Research Organization in Tenn. In 1960, he moved his family to Schenectady where he worked at the General Electric Research & Development Lab, located in Bldg. 37, for the next 24 years. He particularly enjoyed his last major project, working on the GE 100 electric car that is now on display at the Schenectady Museum. Bob was always a loving, generous and supportive son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and son-in-law who always put his family first. He lived by his values, his kindness, ethics and hard work were an example to all who knew him as a leader, colleague, neighbor and friend. In Schenectady, he was a member of the Elfun Society, served on the consistory of the Cobblestone Church, as a committeeman of Boy Scout Troop 54, and volunteered for the Schonowe Fire Department. Upon retirement, Bob and Martha returned to Miss. for several years where together they worked on many community projects. They settled in Wytheville, Va. in 2000 and became active members of St. John's Episcopal Church. In 2007, Martha, his beloved wife of 57 years, predeceased Bob. At that time, he came back to Schenectady to be near his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his sister, Louise Guess of Brookhaven; daughter, Susan (Bruce) Blander, son, Dwight (Linda) Guess, daughter, Cindy (Dino) Sant-uccione; grandchildren, David and Devlin Guess, Melissa and Rebecca Thompson, Eric Blander, and great-grandchildren, Arianna and Chase, all of the NY Capital District. His nephew, Bryan Guess and family of Winchester, Tenn., also survive him. The family would like to thank the staff of Parkland Gardens and Dr. Catherine Smitas for their kind support during the past two years and Schenectady Community Hospice for their invaluable care. Friends and loved ones are invited to attend a memorial service with military honors at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Schenectady on Saturday, January 30 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations may be made in Robert's name to Community Hospice of Schenectady, 1411 Union St., Schenectady, NY 12308 or to the Edison Exploratorium, 132 Broadway, Schenectady, NY 12305.