Robert McKee Rownd IV

1924 - 2021

January 28, 1924 -

December 26, 2021

America has lost another hero from among her greatest generation of patriots who answered the call of duty to defend their country against the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Robert McKee Rownd, IV, was one of those patriots and a graveside memorial service to honor him will be held on Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 3:00pm in the Palestine City Cemetery, New Addition Annex next to his late wife Frankie. Memorial services will be conducted by Bob's grandson, Rev. David Griffin of Sunnyvale.

Bob Rownd was born on January 28, 1924, in Ripley, N.Y., the youngest child of Gertrude and Robert M. Rownd, Jr. Bob had an older sister, Eleanor Rownd, and a much older brother, Thompson Rownd, both of whom predeceased him. Early in his life it was obvious that Bob was highly intelligent and would excel in any classroom setting. He made straight A's from the first grade, and continuing through his senior year at Ripley High School where he was Valedictorian and President of his class. The straight A's continued through his higher education at Cornell and Ohio State where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering and to the University of Michigan where he earned his MBA degree.

On December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Bob awoke that morning and knew without a doubt there was no other decision to consider than to serve his country. Bob was only 17 years old, having just completed his first semester at Cornell University. In addition, he had completed one semester of Field Artillery R.O.T.C. Bob immediately tried to join the Navy, but was rejected due to his nearsightedness. So the next month, in January, 1942, Bob joined the Army Enlisted Reserve Corp in the hope of serving his country. Bob was encouraged by his advisers at Cornell to stay one more year in the R.O.T.C. program and earn additional credits on his pathway to receive a degree in Chemical Engineering. Bob took their advice and the next year the Army deployed him to Camp Hood, Texas, as a Buck Private with 1-1/2 years in the R.O.T.C. He was assigned to the Tank Destroyer Training group where he rose to the rank of Platoon Sargent. Having scored highly on one required test and because of his college chemistry credits, the Army enrolled Bob in their one year Specialty Training program held at Ohio State University. Upon completion, Bob joined a select group of individuals assigned to work at a government site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Bob, as a Staff Sargent, was working in a lab where his job was to separate U-235 Uranium isotopes from Yellow Cake containing Uranium Oxide,

3.5 million pounds of which were imported from the Belgium, Congo. Bob worked at Oak Ridge from October, 1943 - January, 1946, (2 years and 3 months). Although Bob did not know it at the time, he was a part of the highly secret Manhattan Project which was building the first of two Atomic Bombs. One of the bombs, called "LITTLE BOY" was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and the other called "FAT MAN" was dropped on Nagasaki three days later. The bombs caused so much injury, death, and destruction, that only a few days later on August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered bringing an end to World War II. Bob received an honorable discharge from the Army in January, 1946. He immediately returned to the classrooms at Ohio State University earning his Chemical Engineering degree in only 18 months.

Bob married Mildred Jones on July 3, 1946, and that marriage lasted for 24 years. During their marriage, Bob and Mildred were blessed by the birth of two daughters, Melanie Wilson (Will, deceased) of Hotchkiss, Colorado, and Cindy Jones (Curt) of Princeville, HI. Bob is also survived by his favorite nephew, Robert Galbraith of Ripley, N.Y. and Melbourne Beach, Florida. Rob always kept up with his Uncle Bob and Uncle Bob really appreciated him.

After four years in the Army, and holding a degree in Chemical Engineering, Bob was only 23 years old with a very bright future ahead of him.

Bob's first job after the Army was a 15 year stint with Dow Corning, in Midland, Michigan, where he served as the Manager of Production. In addition, during that time, Bob attended night school at the University of Michigan earning a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA). Truly he was a student, always learning all his life. After Dow, Bob worked for eight years for Aladdin Industries in Nashville, Tennessee. His title there was Manager of Research and Development. During his first 23 years in civilian life, Bob held important positions in two large U.S. corporations. While on a trip to Houston to help Aladdin evaluate the purchase of Igloo Corporation, Bob met Frankie who was the Executive Secretary to the founder, president and CEO of Igloo. After a few short months, Bob left Aladdin, moved to Houston, married Frankie and then began a 46 year period of incredible happiness for both of them.

With his marriage to Frankie, Bob inherited two adult step-daughters, Saundra (Thomas) Cook of Galveston, and Sharon (Phil) Jenkins of Palestine, who both survive him today.

After their marriage in 1971, Bob and Frankie continued to live in Houston for 9 years. Even though Bob was starting his work career over from scratch, he was always able to find employment in Houston, working in mid-management to upper-management positions at Brown and Root, Igloo Corporation, Texas Laboratories, and Phoenix Chemical.

In 1980, Frankie's employer offered her a transfer to their Denver office. Because of his love for snow skiing, Frankie suggested relocating to Colorado so Bob could enjoy skiing at least on most weekends. It turned out to be a great decision for them. Bob couldn't have been happier and just knew he could teach Frankie to ski. He tried and tried and he did succeed to some degree. But, Frankie like many on her side of the family, were never intended to become Queen of the Moguls or even a Slalom Down Hill racer like Bob who literally screamed down the mountain until his early 80's and even skied on his 90th birthday, but everyone had to admit that no matter what, Frankie was the best dressed ski bunny on the slopes.

Denver was a wonderful move for them, as Frankie's transfer brought with it a large pay raise and bonus possibilities for which she easily qualified. And, Bob did his usual, he landed a great job with a giant mining company, AMAX, in nearby Golden, Colorado. His new title was Program Manager, New Product Research and Development. Bob's experience and great education credentials made him a valuable employee for many large corporations. Both Bob and Frankie received retirement benefits from their jobs in Denver. So, after 10 years, they both retired and decided to live in nearby Frisco, where they built a house and Bob could ski every day. He even became a ski instructor at the Keystone Resort. It was a happy time, until Frankie began to experience breathing difficulties due to the high altitude in Frisco. Though Bob wasn't eager to do it, he moved Frankie to Lake Conroe, April Sound area, so Frankie could enjoy a more healthy lifestyle. But that move from Frisco to Conroe, turned out to be an incredible blessing for both of them. Over the next 26 years, they grew to love April Sound and their life in that community. They played golf and worked out almost daily and were involved in many social events. It was then, that Bobby and Frankie discovered cruising and they went on so many cruises around the world, that it is impossible to count them all. But suffice it to say, that one year in early December, they announced to the family that they were taking a long holiday cruise because it was cheaper to go on the cruise than to stay home.

In March, 2016, Frankie's health began to fail and Bobby moved them to Windermere, an assisted living community in Palestine to be close to her daughter, Sharon. After Frankie's passing in November, 2017, Bobby's desire was to spend his remaining days living where he and Frankie had been so happy, the April Sound area in Conroe. Bobby achieved that goal first, by being a house guest for a 14 months with his friends Mary and Jack McClanahan, and finally for 2 1/2 years living in the Carriage Inn, a senior independent living facility. Sadly, Bobby passed away the day after Christmas, December 26, 2021, while visiting with his step-daughter Saundra Cook and her husband Tommy in Galveston.

Bobby Rownd's almost 98 years on earth was an incredible life, a life well lived, full of love and duty to country.

Due to being a member of two families, Bobby is survived by many relatives too numerous to mention.