Robert F. Hieter

Robert F. “Bob” Hieter, 84, of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022. 

Bob was born April 20, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, to Harold and Thelma Toone Hieter. 

Robert was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Mary Lou Miller Hieter; and a daughter, Diane Gennusa.

He is survived by three children, Sherri Jones (John), Julie Hymel, Gail Hindman (Joey); seven grandchildren, John Jones Jr., Eric Jones, Adam Hymel, Paige Hymel, Tony Gennusa, Joey Gennusa, Cade Blalock; three great-grandchildren, Aerion Jones, Jaylen Jones, Ayden Jones; brothers, Doug Hieter, Phil Hieter; sister, Ruth Eklund; and other relatives.

In 1959, Bob earned a bachelors of science in psychology from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. While attending Muhlenberg on a football scholarship, he played tackle for the Mules and accumulated many athletic and academic honors. He was also a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. After graduation, he worked for Republic Aviation for 5 years as an industrial engineer and in other supervisory roles.  He later joined Grumman Aerospace in Bethpage, New York, in 1964 as an industrial engineer working on the Apollo Lunar Module and F14 projects.  Bob was promoted to Gulfstream Aerospace’s Director of Manufacturing in Savannah, Georgia, where he stayed until 1980 building military aircraft.  He came to Louisiana in 1980 as Director of Production Operations at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company at Michoud working on the External Tank for the Space Shuttle program. He advanced to Vice President of Production Operations in 1986 and held that position until his retirement in 1998. When not working, Bob enjoyed spending time with his family at their condo in Orange Beach, Alabama.  On any given weekend, he could be found playing golf with his friends at Pinewood Country Club.  He was an avid Saints and LSU fan. Bob enjoyed drinking red wine, smoking a good cigar, and savoring a very rare steak.

Memorial Services will be held at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd West,Slidell LA 70460, on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 11:00am.

Friends may visit at the funeral on Thursday beginning at 9:00am.

Burial will be In Forest Lawn Cemetery.