George Robinson Wentz Sr, “Rob,” born in the old Naval Hospital in Washington DC, died on August 24th in West Palm Beach, Florida after a brief Illness. He was 88.
Rob was raised on several hundred remaining acres of land owned by family prior to the Revolution. His father raised cattle part time. The closest Brandywine, Maryland town was TB and he joked about being valedictorian – in a class of 17.
That honor in hand, he became a University of Virginia freshman at age 16 where he heard firsthand experiences of WWII from older fraternity brothers. NROTC, he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and served as a SeaBee on numerous South Sea islands. On one, Guam he met his wife, Flonell Northrop, whom he immediately charmed and soon married, crushing all competition for the slim Oklahoma redhead on the island of predominately military men.
Years later while traveling in Tunisia, Rob make the difficult choice of refusing multiple camels in exchange for the redhead.
He received his Masters Degree from the University of Illinois, held a Professional Engineer license in Virginia for over 50 years, starting on his 21st birthday, and was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Rob left the Navy as Lieutenant JG. He was later made Lieutenant.
He joined McLean Contracting Company, headquartered in Baltimore, retired after serving as Chief Engineer and Senior VP, and opened a consulting business. Rob served as Senior Warden of St. Michael’s in the Field Episcopal Church, Board of Governors of the Annapolis Yacht Club and was a member of the Chesapeake Sailing Club. He was an avid skier.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, two sons, David Wentz and George Wentz Jr, a daughter, Karen Chapman, seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.
His funeral is 10:30AM Friday, September 15th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 4535 Piney Church Road, Waldorf, Maryland.
