Robert Dye

Robert Fulton Dye, 95, passed away December 10, 2015, at home with his wife of 68 years, Rebecca, at his side.

He was a man of great integrity, humility, sincerity, and a strong believer in hard work—all values that he lived out in his own life. He was also an avid reader and lifelong learner and shared his joy of learning with those around him. He enjoyed traveling, but put devotion to his family and his beloved wife first in everything.

Mr. Dye was born on a farm in rural Gloster, MS that had been in his family for more than a century, to Ethel and Curtis Marion Dye. Like many families of that era, the Dyes lost their farm during the Great Depression. After graduating from Gloster High School, he worked his way through Mississippi State University, graduating with a degree in Chemical Engineering in January 1943. In the midst of World War II, he entered the United States Army, attended Officer Candidate School at Camp Davis, NC, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Coast Artillery Corps in May 1943. He was sent to Harvard University and MIT to pursue a specialized course in electronics and radio engineering and subsequently served in the Central Pacific Theater from 1944-1946. He finished his active duty tour as a captain, and continued serving in the reserves into the mid-1960s.

After the war Mr. Dye returned to Mississippi and married his sweetheart, Rebecca Jane Gaston, in 1947 in Calhoun City. In the early 1950s he attended Georgia Institute of Technology earning his M.S. ('51) and PhD ('53) in Chemical Engineering. While there, the first of three daughters, Rebecca Jane, was born. Following completion of his PhD, he worked for ten years for Phillips Petroleum Company in Bartlesville, OK, where daughters Margaret Gladys and Robin Elaine were born.

In the early 1960s he served for three years as Director of the Mississippi Industrial and Technological Research Commission before joining Shell Development Company in Emeryville, CA and later Houston, TX where he worked for 25 years, retiring 1991. During his career with Phillips and Shell, Mr. Dye was the author of 35 U.S. patents and an authority on Ethylene Oxide and Ethylene Glycols. Among other professional organizations, he was a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Chemical Engineering.

In addition to his career he was a deacon and served in Southern Baptist churches throughout his life. He was a long-time member at Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Sugar Land, TX, and most recently was a member of First Baptist Church, Friendswood, TX. He was also involved in Kiwanis International for decades, serving as President of the Southwest Houston Kiwanis Club. One of his favorite activities in that organization was raising scholarship money for deserving university students. He also served as Lieutenant Governor for the Texas-Oklahoma district.

Mr. Dye was preceded in death by four brothers and a sister. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Jane Gaston Dye; three daughters, Rebecca Dye Parkhill (husband Trent), Margaret Dye Baker (husband Wesley), and Robin Dye-Martin (husband Don). Other survivors include seven grandchildren, Jason Parkhill (wife Kristen), Robert Baker (wife Jamie), Donnie Martin (wife Rebekah), Scott Parkhill, Sarah Martin, Stirling Martin and Kristin Baker; and two great-grandchildren, Caleb and Zooey Parkhill.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Friendswood. Burial will follow at a later date in Calhoun City, MS.

Condolences may be sent to the Dye family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com .

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4