Obituary of Robert B. Britton

Robert B. Britton, 85, died on Friday January 6, at home with his family, following a three year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Bob resided in West Trenton for sixty years and, for the past ten years, spent the summer months at his home, The Mainstay, in Deer Isle, Maine. Bob was born in Newark, NJ on March 5, 1926. Following graduation from high school in 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy R.O.T.C. program, graduating from Brown University in 1946 with a B.S. degree in Naval Science. He served overseas in the Pacific on active duty until his discharge from the Navy in July, 1947 (Lt. j.g.) when he re-entered Brown University, graduating in June, 1948 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. He served 23 years in the Naval Reserve and, following discharge, continued active membership in the Navy league, a civilian group. A registered Professional Engineer in New Jersey and Texas, Bob held supervisory and management engineering positions in the private sector-Bethlehem Steel Company, U. S. Steel Company, Union Carbide Corporation and Rohm and Haas Company-before beginning a professional career spanning 33 years (1958-1991) with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, retiring in July, 1991 as Chief, Bureau of Plant Engineering and Operations. Following his retirement, he began a second career as an associate realtor with Weidel Realtors' Lawrenceville office (1991-2004) where, for several years, he qualified for membership in the Weidel Million Dollar Sales Club and received awards and recognition for ""excellence in sales performance and quality customer service."" An active participant in the civic life of the community, Bob served twenty-five years on the Board of Trustees of the Ewing Township YMCA, including the presidency, and six years as the elected member and vice-president of the Ewing Township Board of Education. He was instrumental in forming the ""Buddy System"", a group of men, black and white, who met regularly to foster more open, effective communication and understanding of community and school problems and, in addition, he was a founder of the Ewing Township Drug Abuse Council. In 1977, he was a recipient of the Robert Ward Worthington Memorial Award given to honor an individual for ""outstanding leadership in social understanding and willing and effective commitment to the community."" Bob was a member of the Yardley Methodist Church for over sixty years, during which time he served as a lay leader, held longtime membership on the Board of Trustees, and chaired numerous committees. He was a life member of the Engineers Club of Trenton, a master Mason in Mercer Lodge, No. 50 F. & A.M., and held membership in several professional organizations. Loved, respected and admired by all who knew him, Bob lived his life with unswerving devotion to his family, his church. his country and his community. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 63 years, Barbara L. Britton (Greenlaw), his beloved sons, Robert B. Britton, Jr. of West Trenton and James M. Britton of Lawrenceville; his sister-in-law, Virginia M. Britton of Farmington, Michigan; two brothers-in-law, Col. (Ret.) Kenneth N. Greenlaw (Valdonna) of Littleton, Colo.; Roger L. Greenlaw (Jodi) of Pueblo West, Colo.; and by six loving nieces and nephews and their respective families in Michigan, Colorado and Washington State. He was predeceased by his parents, Capt. William O. Britton and Olga Britton Ohning and by his brother, William G. Britton of Farmington, Mich. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at Yardley United Methodist Church in Yardley, Pa. with calling hours from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. In the Spring, Bob's ashes will be interred in Mount Adams Cemetery, Deer Isle, Maine. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob's memory may be made to the Yardley United Methodist Church, 300 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Yardley, Pa. 19067 or to an organization of the donor's choice.