Robert Elwell Sr.

1931 - 2021

July 7, 1931 - October 2, 2021 Formerly of Diamond Bar and Glendora, CA, Robert Barton Elwell Sr., 90, of Beaverton, OR, died October 2, 2021 at home surrounded by his family. Born in Oak Park, IL, son of Bard Clark Elwell and Bernice Carolyn (Barton) Elwell. He had an identical twin, Jack Bard Elwell and sister Gail Louise Hague (Elwell). He was a 1949 graduate of Oak Park Township High School. He graduated from Cornell College in 1953 and was accepted at University of Chicago, MIT, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, and UC Berkeley before attending Cal Tech for his PhD in Chemistry. He also received his Master's in Theology in 1958 from USC. Robert was a Chemical Engineer at Aerojet, helped develop a safe rocket fuel for the Apollo missions and was a consultant for the layout of the Kennedy Space Center. He was an active member of the community, one of the founding members of the Diamond Bar Jaycees. He was named Diamond Bar Citizen of the Year in 1967 and Diamond Bar Junior Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 1968. He was instrumental in forming the Diamond Bar Recreational Planning Commission and ultimately the Diamond Bar Parks and Recreation Commission which brought the first recreational facilities to Diamond Bar. He coached his son Robert Jr. in Diamond Bar Little League and Pop Warner Football. Robert's greatest joy was his family, especially his grandchildren. His face would light up whenever they called or entered the room. He had a dry sense of humor, even until the end. He always put others before himself and was beloved by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed. Robert was preceded in death by his son, Robert Elwell Jr. in 2019; his twin brother, Jack; and his parents, Bard and Bernice. Survivors include his wife, Janet; sister, Gail Hague; daughters, Kimberly (John) Holman and Karen (Tim) Gannon; son, Rob Farrer; grandchildren, Danny, Jeremy (Jenna), Amanda (Nick), Joshua, Ryan (Breyana), Timmy, Kristianna, and Jessi; and great-grandsons: Easton, Jack, Blake and Brooks. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society at: donate3.cancer.org or to Brighton Hospice at 8050 SW Warm Springs St., Suite 205, Tualatin, OR 97062.