Robert H. Guess, 86, died peacefully with family at his side inhis home in Schenectady, N.Y., on Jan. 7.

Robert (Bob) was born to Louise and Earl Guess on Sept. 5, 1923.Reared in Brookhaven, he attended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College andreceived a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineeringfrom Tulane University.

During World War II, Bob served as an ensign in the Pacificaboard the USS Pine Island and retired from the Naval Reserves as alieutenant junior grade. He then taught at Mississippi StateUniversity where he met the love of his life, his bride, Martha N.Newton.

His engineering career took him to Boeing Corp. in Seattle,Wash., and on to the Arnold Research Organization in Tennessee. In1960, he moved his family to Schenectady where he worked at theGeneral Electric Research and Development lab, located in Building37, for the next 24 years. He particularly enjoyed his last majorproject, working on the GE 100 electric car that is now on displayat the Schenectady Museum.

Bob was always a loving, generous and supportive son, brother,husband, father, grandfather and son-in-law who always put hisfamily first.

He lived by his values. His kindness, ethics and hard work werean example to all who knew him as a leader, colleague, neighbor andfriend.

In Schenectady, he was a member of the Elfun Society, served onthe consistory of the Cobblestone Church, as a committeeman of BoyScout Troop 54 and volunteered for the Schonowe Fire Department.Upon retirement, Bob and Martha returned to Mississippi for severalyears, where, together, they worked on many community projects.They settled in Wytheville, Va., in 2000 and became active membersof St. John’s Episcopal Church.

In 2007, Martha, his beloved wife of 57 years, predeceased Bob.At that time, he went back to Schenectady to be near his childrenand grandchildren.

He is survived by his sister, Louise Guess, of Brookhaven; adaughter, Susan (Bruce) Blander; a son, Dwight (Linda) Guess; adaughter, Cindy (Dino) Santuccione; his grandchildren, David andDevlin Guess, Melissa and Rebecca Thompson, Eric Blander; andgreat-grandchildren, Arianna and Chase, all of the New York capitaldistrict. His nephew Bryan Guess, and family, of Winchester, Tenn.,also survive him.

The family would like to thank the staff of Parkland Gardens andDr. Catherine Smitas for their kind support during the past twoyears and Schenectady Community Hospice for their invaluable care.In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in memory ofBob be directed to the Edison Exploratorium, 132 Broadway,Schenectady, N.Y. 12305, or Community Hospice of Schenectady, 1411Union St., Schenectady, N.Y. 12308.

Friends and loved ones are invited to attend a memorial servicewith military honors at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church inSchenectady on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 11 a.m.