ROBERT "Bob" HEMM

1921 - 2022

Robert Virgil Hemm "Bob" June 20, 2021 - March 17, 2022
Retired Col. Robert V. Hemm, age 100 of Springfield, VA died March 17, 2022 of old age. He was born on June 20, 1921 in St. Louis, MO, graduated from Washington University, St, Louis, on June 2, 1942 as a Chemical Engineer and 2nd. Lt., US Army (Air Reserve), and entered active duty on June 12, 1942. His WWII military service included instructing in Texas, research in Ohio, and a short time in Hollandia, New Guinea. He worked for Mallinkrodt Chemical Works after the war and was recalled to active duty in 1951. Shortly after recall, he completed his Doctor of Sciences degree at Washington University, and later earned an MBA from Auburn University. The rest of his military service included assignments at the Air Force Materials Lab in Ohio, Air Technical Intelligence in Germany, training in Utah, research management at Systems Command and the Air Staff, teaching at the Air War College, and finishing as the Commander of the Air Force European Office of Aerospace Research and Development in London. He retired in 1977 and served as Executive Secretary of the National Materials Advisory Board of the National Academy of Sciences until 1983. He was married to Barbara (Vollmer) Hemm for 66 years from November 20, 1942 until her death on December 15, 2008. On November 16, 2010, he married Jean Winge Knapp, the widow of his childhood through adulthood friend, Claude Knapp. Jean died on June 11, 2019. From 1953 until his death he was an active member of the International Association of Lions Clubs serving the community in all of his duty assignments and in retirement. In 1990-1991 he served as District Governor Lions of Virginia District 24-A. He was on the Board of Directors of the Old Dominion Eye Foundation, and in 1999-2000 he was the president of the Lions of Virginia Foundation. He was a life-long active member and ordained Deacon and Elder in the Presbyterian Church.He is survived by daughter Barbara Wilper of Alexandria, VA; son retired Lt. Col. Robert V. Hemm, Jr, of Clifton, VA; daughter Jan and husband Dan Pritchard of Columbia, MO; nine grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Springfield, VA at 11 a.m. on April 9, 2022. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on April 8, 2022 at Demaine Funeral Home in Springfield. Interment will be at a future date at Arlington National Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 8336 Carrleigh Parkway, Springfield, VA 22152, or the Springfield-Franconia Host Lions Club, Box 73, Springfield, VA 22150