Robert Harold Popejoy

Robert Harold Popejoy

January 9, 1925 – July 10, 2021

Robert H. Popejoy, a retired senior executive of Dresser Rand and a forty-one-year resident of Sugar Land, Texas, passed of natural causes on Saturday, July 10, 2021. He was ninety-six years old.

He is survived by his children David Popejoy and wife Marsha, Pam Moss and husband Sina, Debbie Wadkins, and Amy Ping and husband Bryan, along with his grandchildren, Kristyn Popejoy, Karl Popejoy, Kelly Moss, Tyler Ping, Trevor Ping, Kayden Wadkins, and Kennedy Wadkins, and two great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his brother Raymond, his daughter Judy Popejoy, and his wife Barbara of sixty-two years.

Robert was born in Peru, Indiana on January 9, 1925, to Mary Barnsdale and Ferrol Popejoy. He graduated High School with Scholastic Honors and Lettered in basketball and football. Robert served his country in the Army during WWII from 1943 to 1946. He was in Europe early on after the Normandy invasion commanding a “big gun”. Later, his unit was assigned to Japan where he participated in the occupation and recovery efforts in the city of Nagaski. He flew the American Flag at his residence in Sugar Creek for many years. On December 24th, 1946, he married his wife, Barbara Esslinger also of Peru, Indiana. He graduated Pau Tau Sigma with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1949. He later graduated the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University in 1972. In 1981, he received the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award. Robert was a longtime member of the Purdue Presidents Club. He dedicated his entire engineering and business career to Ingersoll Rand and later Dresser Rand advancing in positions of increasing responsibility. He was awarded several patents as Chief Engineer. After a long and distinguished career, Robert retired as Vice President and General Manager of the Air Products and Reciprocating Products Divisions.

Robert was a devoted family man. He enjoyed participating in his children’s activities and he taught many valuable life lessons. He was a beloved husband and father to his wife, children and grandchildren. He took pride in restoring a 1931 Pontiac in his spare time that he drove for several years. Robert enjoyed woodworking and refinished antiques. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed fishing for Lake Trout and Salmon in upstate New York. Robert also fished Galveston and Corpus Christie Bays for Speckled Trout, Redfish, and Tarpon. Later, he took up golf and he and Barbara joined Sugar Creek Country Club where they were members for many years. He served in several capacities at the Club including President. He played golf until he was 90 years old. In his later years he enjoyed traveling to distant places and always had his bag packed and his passport ready. His most memorable trip was a river cruise in Russia.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 24th at 11:00 am at Settegast-Kopf at Sugar Creek. All donations will be given to the American Cancer Society and Camp Hope.