Dr. Robert "Bob" Lauren Tichenor

Dr. Tichenor was born September 1, 1918 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin to the late Dr. Lauren Edgar Tichenor, an osteopath and the late Helen Spain Tichenor Parkins, a high school teacher. He was raised in Montana, a grandson of ranching homesteaders.

He graduated with a B.S. in chemistry from Montana State College, Bozeman, in 1939. The same year he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University in England, but his attendance was postponed due to the outbreak of World War II, which closed the Atlantic to civilian ocean travel.

He went on to receive his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry in 1943 from Harvard University, studying under the famed chemist, Dr. George Kistiakowsky. While at Harvard he met his wife of 67 years, Lily Olsen Tichenor, who survives him.

Dr. Tichenor began his professional career at Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, NY. While there he was recruited to join the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where he worked on separating heavy uranium isotopes from the lighter ones for the war effort. At the same time, his stepbrother, Bill Parkins worked at a similar operation in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

In 1945, after the war ended, he took a single year of post-graduate study at Oxford University in place of the deferred Rhodes Scholarship. When he returned to the U.S., he joined the laboratory of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. in West Orange, N.J, where he worked on battery storage and had his name on his first U.S. patent.

In 1950 Dr. Tichenor joined Benger Lab, E. I du Pont de Nemours, in Waynesboro as a research chemist doing work on such projects as the development of “Orlon” and “Lycra fibers.” He has his name on several U. S. patents during his 35 years in Benger lab.

Dr. Tichenor was awarded a Fellow of American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS).

While working at DuPont he noticed on the bulletin board an announcement about an organizing meeting to form a credit union for DuPont employees. At this initial meeting he was elected President of Waynesboro DuPont Employees Credit Union and thus began his association, spanning more than half a century, with the current DuPont Community Credit Union.

As a founding member in 1959, Mr. Tichenor was instrumental in organizing the DuPont Community Credit Union to serve the employees of the DuPont plant in Waynesboro and establishing the Credit Union charter. Under his leadership the Credit Union remained very progressive and began offering mortgages in the 1960’s, well ahead of other credit unions. Bob volunteered doing title work on Saturdays and also did appraisals, acted as Trustee for DCCU real estate loans for many years. He was head of the real estate department, Loan Officer (for many years) and worked closely with the credit committee.

Some dates are: Member of Supervisory Committee for 3 years, 1960 – 62; Director for 27 years, 1959, 1965-70 and 1986 – 2006; Director Emeritus for 5 years, 2006 – 2011

With Bob’s vision and leadership the Credit Union grew from its humble beginnings to a great success story in the Waynesboro community and surrounding areas.

Bob worked tirelessly in many other community organizations in Waynesboro, including the Democratic Party and PTAs, holding various positions over the years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for 49 years.

He is survived by his wife, Lily Olsen Tichenor, four children and three grandchildren, John Tichenor of Richmond; Nancy Tichenor of Phoenix, Arizona; David Tichenor of Waynesboro; Anne Tichenor Bandy and husband Rabin of Carmichael, California and her three children, Ryan Bandy of Carmichael, California, Justin Bandy and Monica Bandy both of San Francisco, California; two half sisters, Julie Johnson and Alice Wiles, both of Michigan.

Bob was often seen running and later walking on the sidewalks of Waynesboro.

His voice of measured reason and calm logic will be missed.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to your Waynesboro First Aid Crew, 201 West Broad Street, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m., until 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, 618 West Main Street.

A funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m., on Thursday, September 15, 2011, at the Waynesboro Chapel of Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Homes, with the Rev. Dr. Glen Holman officiating. Following the service, there will be a time of refreshments and sharing of memories and stories.

Family and friends may share memories and sign the guest register book online at www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com