Robert Lee "Bob" Melcher

1940 - 2016

Robert Lee "Bob" Melcher, 76, died in his home on Sunday, June 19, 2016, in Menlo Park, Calif., due to complications of prostate cancer. Dr. Melcher was born on Jan. 27, 1940, in Marshalltown, Iowa. His parents were Jack W. and Maurine G. Melcher. He graduated from Paschal High School with the class of 1958, Southern Methodist University with the class of 1962 and he received a PhD in physics from Washington University in 1968. He married Ingeborg Boettcher in 1966. After doing postdoctoral work at Cornell University, he joined IBM where he worked for 30 years. He also did research at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. Later, he moved to Arizona where he was the chief technology officer with Three Five Systems. He retired in 2007. Dr. Melcher was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather "Opa," brother and friend who lit up when around his grandkids and always enjoyed lively discussions. Bob and Ingeborg had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 10, 2016, with close friends and family. Survivors: Dr. Melcher is survived by his wife, Ingeborg; his sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Marc Melcher and Dr. Tami Daugherty of Menlo Park, Calif., Kirk and Maren Melcher of Cologne, Germany, and Scott and Louise Melcher of Chester, Pa.; his eight grandchildren, Ben, Toby, Kayla, Camille, Luke, Annabel, Violet, and Madeleine; and his brothers, Dr. Charles L. Melcher of Oak Ridge, Tenn., and John Q. Melcher of Fort Worth. Memorial service: was held Saturday, June 25, 2016, at Alta Mesa Funeral Home in Palo Alto, Calif. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Eastside College Preparatory School in East Palo Alto which focuses on underserved students where many are the first in their family to go to college.