Robert J. Outland

OUTLAND, ROBERT J. Robert John Outland, a long-time resident of Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, passed on Friday, March 4, 2011. A memorial service for Mr. Outland will be held at noon on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, 32 Lakeshore Dr., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. Mr. Outland was a patent attorney for Fildes and Outland, P.C., in Grosse Pointe Woods, and, prior to that, worked at General Motors for 48 years. He was also a veteran, having served in the United States Army during and after World War II. In addition, Mr. Outland was a dedicated family man and an active member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Grosse Pointe Farms. Mr. Outland, son of Clyde W. and Edna Mae Outland, was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. After graduating from Flint Central High School in 1945, he entered the General Motors Institute co-operative engineering program. After one term he was drafted into the army, serving his country until April 1947. Returning to GMI after his discharge, he graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Degree in 1952. He was elected to membership in the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1954. From 1952-61 Mr. Outland worked as a mechanical engineer at the Electro-motive division of the General Motors Corporation in LaGrange, Illinois. He also began graduate study in law at John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. In 1961 he transferred to the GM Patent Section and worked for two years at their Washington D.C. office as a patent searcher while completing his law degree at American University's Washington College of Law. He was awarded a JD degree in 1963. Mr. Outland was transferred to the main office of the GM Patent Section in downtown Detroit in August 1963. He was admitted to the Michigan State Bar, joined the American Bar Association, and was registered as an attorney by the United States Patent Office in 1964. In 1993, after 30 years in the Patent Section and a total of 48 years with the corporation, he retired from General Motors. After his retirement from GM, Mr. Outland joined Mr. Chris Fildes's patent law office in Grosse Pointe Woods, and the firm was renamed Fildes and Outland. Mr. Outland continued to work actively as a patent attorney for the firm until his passing last week. Mr. Outland was a life-long adherent of Christian Science and an active member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Grosse Pointe Farms, for over 40 years. He served the church in many capacities including as an usher, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, board member and chairman, treasurer, and first reader. He also served as chairman of the building committee when the church edifice was being constructed in 1967. Mr. Outland was married to Ruth Joy Strickland in 1953. They have four children, Patricia Perry (Mike), Ruth M. Outland, Keith Outland, and Carol Outland (Rick Knickerbocker). Their grandchildren are Joy Tegtmeyer, John Tegtmeyer III (Sara), Michael Perry, Elizabeth Joels (Jared), Steven Kistler, Andrew Kistler, Carissa Outland Knickerbocker, and Chloe Outland Knickerbocker. They have one great-grandson, Japhet Tegtmeyer. Mr. Outland is also remembered fondly by his sister, Ruth O. Sharpe, and brothers, Gerald Outland (Doris) and Jack Swick (Betty). Memorial contributions may be made to First Church of Christ, Scientist, 282 Chalfonte Ave, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, 48236.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236