Robert H. Boyd

Robert (Bob) Boyd, of Cokesbury Village, Hockessin, Delaware, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 3, 2023, at Willow Brook Court (Cokesbury Village) Hockessin, DE, surrounded by the love of his family. Bob was born August 27, 1932, in Norristown, PA, to the late Norman Boyd and Hilda Boyd (Zweier). He was preceded in death by his brother, William (Bill) Boyd, and Bill’s wife, Jeanne. 

Bob attended Lebanon Valley College where he majored in chemistry and met the lovely music major, Dorothy Grabau, who later became his wife. He graduated in 1954 and went on to do graduate work in chemistry at Penn State University. In 1956 he married Dorothy. In 1959, he received his Ph.D. and began a 34 year career as a Research Chemist at the DuPont Company. During that career, he moved from Parlin, NJ to Towanda, PA and finally to Wilmington, DE making many long-time friends along the way. He was a member of the American Chemical Society for more than 50 years.

After retiring from the DuPont Company, he taught for several years, first as an adjunct professor of calculus at DelTech and later at U of DE’s Academy of Lifelong Learning (now known as Osher Institute). At the Osher Institute he developed and taught an introductory computer course on using the internet. Bob was an active member of the Parish of St. Mary of the Assumption Church and served on the Parish Council for many years.

The great loves of his life were his wife and family. He loved playing with his grandchildren and shared the joy of Hess trucks and trains. He also enjoyed sharing great tasting but affordable wine and serving everyone ice cream from the many cartons that were always in his freezer. Every place he lived he always found friends to play bridge.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Dorothy, and his four children,  Barbara Ambrose (Rell Ambrose), Janice Boyd, Mary Gutzat (Michael Gutzat), Thomas Boyd (Kathryn Boyd); and his 7 grandchildren (Gwyneth Ambrose, Nico Ambrose, Ryan Gutzat (Nancy Bolton), Charos Courier (Eric Wright), Zachary Gutzat, Clara Boyd and Juliet Boyd). He is also survived by his nieces, Patricia Blauch (John Blauch) and Kathy Boyd Kroh.
 

Bob will be remembered for the way he always faced life with good will and cheerful laughter.
 

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 pm on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 10:30 AM, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707. A short visitation will be held prior to Mass (9:45 to 10:15 AM). Immediately following the Mass please join the family for a luncheon to celebrate Bob’s life, held at St. Mary of the Assumption Church. Interment will be private and held at All Saints Cemetery, 6001 Kirkwood Hwy, Wilmington Delaware 19808.
 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or  the U of D Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (www.udel.edu/giving)

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