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Dr. Robert (Bob) Emery Murch, 86, of Valley View, TX passed away Saturday March 30, 2024 in Denton, TX. Bob was born March 31, 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts to Marjorie Ellis and Donald Murch. Bob grew up in East Milton, Massachusetts. Bob married his one and only, high school sweetheart Jane Stronge on June 14, 1958 in Mattapan, Massachusetts. They graduated from Milton High School together in 1954. Bob graduated from Tufts University with a Chemical Engineering Degree. He then paid the Navy back for their investment in his undergraduate degree by serving at the nuclear submarine base in New London, Connecticut. Bob and Jane started their life’s journey in nearby Groton. Bob taught sailors about the physics of nuclear submarines. He reported to Admiral Hiram G. Rickover, considered to be the "Father of the Nuclear Navy." Next, Bob and Jane moved their growing family to obtain his Masters of Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University. After getting his masters, they moved their three daughters to Newark, Delaware to pursue his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware. During his schooling and after receiving his PhD, Bob worked at DuPont in the Chemical Engineering Department. While in Delaware, their fourth daughter was born. In 1969, the family moved back to Massachusetts to the town of Wayland where Bob accepted a position at Polaroid headquarters in Waltham. He continued working for Polaroid until his retirement. While living in Wayland, Bob and Jane were active in local politics, active in the Church of the Holy Spirit, and enjoyed playing bridge with friends. Bob had a deep love of music. He played the clarinet in high school and picked it up again in his 50's. Bob played in many pit bands for high school musicals, a local orchestra and marched in parades all around the Boston area. He also enjoyed jazz of all kinds including Dixieland, Big Band, and Ragtime. Bob attended concerts well into his 80's. He was playing his clarinet within weeks of his passing. We know he is playing it still. In 2014, Bob and Jane moved to Valley View, Texas to build a house next to their daughter Susan and her husband Ed Pickrel. When the house was finished, Bob and Jane lived there until they moved to Eagle Ridge Alzheimer's Special Care Center in Denton, Texas. Bob was always looking out for others and lighting up the room with his humor and affection. Especially when he was with the love of his life, his Janie. Bob and Jane were never far from each other. They had the love everyone hopes and dreams of. Best friends and forever partners. He chose to be by her side through all the adventures of their life. From high school dances, through babies, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, to hospice care; they were always holding hands until his very last days. Bob and Jane had four daughters, lots of grandchildren, and even more great grandchildren. Bob loved children of all ages. Wherever the kids were is where "Grampy" was! He regularly had one of the littles on his shoulders, dancing on his feet or telling jokes. Grampy's favorite joke to tell the grandkids was: “Wanna hear a dirty joke?......A white horse fell into a mud puddle.” It never failed that this joke was shared with every one of their grandkids. Bob is survived by his wife, Jane; daughters, Pam Martin and husband Scott, Susan Pickrel, Leah Murch, and Donna Jensen and husband Barry; sister, Marti McIntyre; eleven grandchildren, Maile Schneider and husband Brian, Robert and Jack Martin, James Pickrel, Stephanie Stout and husband David, Edward Pickrel and wife Myler, Cassie Dean and husband Tim, Cjersti, Kyla, Donnie and Quentin Jensen; and thirteen great grandchildren, Teddy, Walter, Penny and Vivian Schneider, David, Abby Beth, and Clayton Pickrel, Matthew, Kane, Wyatt and Deacon Stout, Laney and Edward Coyt Pickrel. Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Marjorie Ellis and Donald Murch; brother-in-law, Jim McIntyre; son-in-law, Ed Pickrel; in-laws, Mary Clark and Roger Stronge; and sister-in-law, Patricia Stronge Hadley. The family would like to thank the caregivers of Eagle Ridge Alzheimer's Special Care Center and Dallas Hospice & Palliative Care for their professional and loving care. On-line condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

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Robert Emery Murch

March 31, 1937 - March 30, 2024