Robert Lee Rinker III

Robert L Rinker III passed away March 2, 2024 at the age of 73 after a valiant battle with kidney disease and cancer. The kidney transplant was successful but sadly he succumbed to cancer a year later.

He was born March 30, 1950 at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Leadville, Colorado (Lake County) to Robert L. Rinker and Lady Elsie Rinker.

It was in the mountains of Colorado that Bob’s exemplary capabilities, and love of science, bloomed. Winning top honors in the Colorado-Wyoming Science Fair earned him a position at the 1967 International Science and Engineering Fair in San Francisco. His senior High School research also won him recognition by the US Navy and trip to a US Navy research facility and ‘Navy Cruise.’

Bob earned a B.A. in Physics in 1972 at the University of Colorado (Boulder) CU, elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He completed his Physics Ph.D. in 1983, also at CU. He was hired by Northrop-Grumman in Los Angeles to work on ring-laser-gyro navigation systems.

It was in California that Bob met his future wife, Rose, through mutual friends. Their first date was at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. He truly enjoyed classical music and Rock guitar. At that time Rose worked at Hughes Aircraft and Bob became her Thursday evening tutor in algebra. Before one of their sessions Bob called to cancel because he was in a car accident by a drunk driver. He had a broken nose and wrist. Rose was so concerned for Bob’s well-being that she went to see him the next morning. Overcome by his condition, Rose could not stop crying and Bob, the injured one, became her consoler. It was then they realized they wanted to be together forever.

In 1992 “Dr Bob” and Rose moved to Tucson where he continued his work protecting our nation at Raytheon Missile Systems. He received multiple patents, and was recognized with many awards for his decades of creative contributions to our nation’s defense, including Raytheon’s Corporate Excellence in Engineering and Technology Award.

Bob's devotion to Rose was obvious to his co-workers who knew that whenever Rose called, whatever technical, nitty gritty, critical engineering detail was being discussed it would be stopped cold so that he could answer her call.

Bob retired from Raytheon Missile Systems in 2015 as a Senior Engineering Fellow. As he was fond of saying ‘He knew it was time to retire when his fear of inflation was overcome by his aggravations at work.’

In retirement he was able to concentrate his time on his love of outdoor photography, skiing, rock hounding, the scientific modeling of natural phenomena, and being with Rose.

Bob is survived by his wife, Rose, his sister, Susan, his two nephews, Paul, John, and Eileen and their five children. He was a good son, husband, and brother. Bob enjoyed the rapport he had with his nephews. Bob and Rose were planning a trip after the one-year anniversary of his transplant to visit his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests considering a memorial donation to the Wounded Warrior Project or the Ronald McDonald House.