Robert Frederic Koch Sr.

1929 - 2018

Robert Frederic Koch, Sr.

Corpus Christi, TX

b. June 18, 1929, Brooklyn, NY, to Marguerite Anna Montanus Koch and Emil Koch. "Robbie" grew up on 88th Street, Woodhaven, Queens.

d. June 5, 2018 at home, Corpus Christi, TX. Leukemia. Robert's charm and quick wit ever present, he enjoyed brightening the days of his neighbors, medical teams and strangers.

Despite a long family line of doctors, Robert chose chemical engineering. After "Bob" graduated Brooklyn Polytechnic-1951 his career was interrupted only by the Korean War draft into Ft. Monmouth's professional lab. Bob regularly jumped a hop, documenting World Travels in thousands of slides.

Bob joined DuPont Antioch, CA-1955, met and married Wilma Louise Zeigner, had Julie and Pam, and transferred to Newark, DE where Robbie and Connie were born.

Bob led DuPont Chambers Works NJ Specialty Chemicals teams regularly assigned challenging areas and Bob was a Superintendent on Ingleside Kel-Chlor Task Force-1970s, moving the family to Texas. Startup-1974 was the first commercial Kel-Chlor operation. Back to Delaware, Bob worked on Freon 134A and International Teams taking expertise to China and Brazil.

Going into the plant to check in and get to know operators underpinned Bob's managing, saying, "Relationships are key to learn how production's going." Operators gave ideas, often applied; Bob gave due credit.

In 1990 after 35 years, Bob retired, taking up hobbies: Photography, Asian gardening, Sailing, Astronomy, Rowing, Cycling, Model trains and villages, and building a water-cooled computer. A self-taught Photoshop authority, Bob submitted work to international travel sites.

Robert and Burmese cat "Shokie" moved back to Corpus Christi-2013.

Robert is survived by children, Julia Ann Galbraith (Chuck), Corpus Christi; Pamela Marie Allen (Lance), Hong Kong; Robert, Jr. (Helen), Augusta; and Constance Louise Koch, CA.

Texas Granddaughters: Jessica "Kika" Galbraith, Carrie Galbraith Curiel (Matt); Kentucky Granddaughter Ashley Koch Groh (Jamison); Hong Kong Grandsons Dean and Vincent Allen; California twins Madelyn and Lilli Koch; Great-Granddaughter Gracie Groh.