Robert Leon 'Bob' Bryan Sr., 91

CHESTERTOWN, Md. - Robert Leon 'Bob' Bryan Sr. of Chestertown, Md., died May 2, 2007, in his home. He was 91.

Mr. Bryan was born on Aug. 8, 1915, in Wilmington, son of the late Leon O. and Irene B. Bryan.

He was a 1933 graduate of Tower Hill School in Wilmington.

In 1937 he graduated cum laude of Dartmouth College with a bachelor's degree in chemistry and with a masters in chemical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1939.

During this time he met his wife on a blind date arranged by their friend, Gilbert Ingersoll of Wilmington. Thanks, Gilbert! They married in a snow storm on Oct. 19, 1940, and honeymooned in Bermuda via a Pan Am Transatlantic Clipper ship.

Mr. Bryan was employed by the E.I. DuPont Co. from 1939 to 1974, working in Wilmington, Seaford and Kinston, N.C.

He worked on a process for manufacturing nylon and developed finishes for Dacron.

During World War II, he focused on materials for parachutes and jungle warfare equipment and helped develop airplane tires strong enough to land wartime aircraft carrying heavier machine guns.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth Scott Westcott "Beppy" Bryan; and a son, E. Blay Bryan.

Mr. Bryan is survived by a son, Robert L. Bryan Jr. of Kennedyville, Md.; a daughter, Elizabeth S. Bryan of Chapel Hill, N.C.; a brother, Henry W. Bryan of Wilmington; and four grandchildren, Julia Bryan-Diehl of Chicago, Rachel B. Bryan of Richmond, Va., Sophia S. Foscue and D. Macon Foscue of Chapel Hill, N.C.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Wesley Hall, Heron Point, Chestertown, Md.

Interment will be held privately in Shrewsbury Cemetery, Kennedyville, Md.

Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sassafras River Association, P.O. Box 333, Georgetown, MD, 21930; or the Chester River Association, 100 N. Cross St. Suite 1, Chestertown, MD, 21620

Arrangements by Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, Galena, Md.