Robert Staats

Robert W. Staats

LAGRANGEVILLE - Robert W. Staats, 88, an area resident since 1956 and formerly of Newport, RI, died on Monday, November 16, 2015 at The Pines of Poughkeepsie, following a long fight with leukemia.

Born in Newport, RI on March 17, 1927, he was the son of Chester Irving Staats and Mildred Horton Staats. Robert proudly served our country in the US Army, Second Infantry Division, PFC during WWII. After graduating from URI in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering, he served again as a commissioned officer, 1st Lt., Headquarters & Headquarters Det., 15th Ordinance Bn, Special Weapons Support, Sandia Base, NM. Robert was employed by IBM, Poughkeepsie/Fishkill for 33 years as a Project Engineer and played a key role in development of their first magnetic core memory, retiring in 1989. He had also had worked for US Rubber and General Electric.

Robert was a Freemason of St. John's Lodge No. 1, Newport RI, a former member of the Freedom Plains Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Chelsea Yacht Club. He was awarded lifetime membership in the US Power Squadron in 1990, having served as Commander in 1978.

Robert shared a lifelong passion for sailing with his wife, Janet King, whom he married in June of 1951 in Providence, RI. She survives him at home. He is also survived by his children and their spouses, David and Jane Staats of Boise, ID, Martha and Scott Beswick of Audubon Park, NJ, and Roger and Erin Staats of Marlboro, NY; his grandchildren, Rachel, Anne, Laura, Brian, Charlotte and Delaney; and his brothers and their wives, Richard and Dottie Staats of Valparaiso, IN and Irving and Ann Staats of Woodlawn, TN.

A private service will be observed in the summer, scattering his ashes in the sea around his boyhood home of Newport, RI. Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., Hopewell Junction. For online condolences, please visit Robert's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.