Robert Hugh Somerville

March 20, 1926 – February 14, 2016

Robert was born in Los Angeles, where he recalled as a child picking beans on the ground which is now the Los Angeles International Airport.

He graduated from Inglewood Union High School in June, 1944 at age 18, though by age 15 he had already completed the credits required for graduation and had gone to work at Douglas Aircraft as an airplane machinist and mechanic.

At age 16 he enlisted in the California State Cavalry and at age 17 entered the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving as a pilot from 1943 to 1945.

Following his post-war discharge Robert returned to California and attended Cal Aero Tech, where he graduated with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Following graduation he moved to Seattle to work at Boeing Aircraft Company.

In 1950 he came to the Tri-Cities, working throughout his career as a design engineer for GE, Douglas United Nuclear, McDonnell Douglas, and Exxon Nuclear. This is also where he met Ethyl Ann Oyen, who would become his wife of over 50 years. They married at Richland Lutheran Church on June 8, 1957 and during the first half of the 1960s welcomed into the world their sons Scott, Lee and Kent.

Robert became a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, being elected as a senior member in 1976. He received his Professional Engineer’s license in 1978.

Robert retired from Exxon Nuclear in August 1986 due to heart problems and enjoyed a lengthy retirement before finally succumbing to heart-related complications while at Hospice at the Chaplaincy in Kennewick.

Robert is preceded in death by his mother and father, Eva and Hugh Somerville, and by his brother Stanley. He is survived by his wife Ethyl and his sons Scott (Richland), Lee (El Cajon, CA), and Kent and his wife Charlene (Duvall, WA).

A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at 3:30pm at Sunset Gardens in Richland.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Hospice at the Chaplaincy.