Robert L Stultz Jr.

Robert Lee Stultz, Jr.of Charlotte passed away on January 5, 2014. Bob was the son of Robert L. Stultz, Sr. and Grace Dearborn Stultz. He was born in Washington, DC on July 24, 1926. He was raised in Memphis, TN and Morgantown, WVA. After serving in the US Navy from 1943-1946 he graduated from West Virginia University in 1949 with a degree in Chemistry. While at WVU he met and married Patricia Miller Stultz, his wife of 65 years. For four years following his graduation he and Patty began their married life and family in Kingston, PA where he was a chemistry instructor at Wyoming Seminary. In 1952 Bob was awarded a General Electric Science Fellowship and a Westinghouse Fellowship for teachers at Union College in Schenectady, NY.

In 1953 he began a ten year tenure with Union Carbide Corporation in South Charleston, WVA, first as a research chemist and subsequently as a research group leader in man-made fiber process development. In 1963 Bob, Patty and their five children moved to Charlotte, NC to join the Celanese Corporation where he held increasingly responsible positions. In 1966 Bob was transferred to the New York headquarters of Celanese. He was named Vice-President in 1968 and was successively responsible for the corporation’s man-made fiber activities in technical development, sales, marketing and international business development. In 1984, on behalf of Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Bob opened and led the negotiations in the People’s Republic of China, leading to the creation and establishment of an equity joint venture in Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, PRC.

Following his retirement in 1986 Bob served as a fulltime consultant to Hoechst Celanese and Hoechst AG on additional joint venture developments in China until 1996. Bob sat on the Board of Directors of the Nantong Cellulose Fibers Corporation from 1987-1989; the advisory board of the College of Business Administration at UNCC from 1979-1994; the advisory board of the UNCC Center for International Studies from 1982-1994; a member of the National Research Council’s Corporate Council for Mathematics and Science Coalition from 1991-1995. He also served as a member of the Alumni Advisory Board of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University from 1996-2008.

Bob led a fulfilling life of travelling, cruising the seas, enjoying wonderful food and seeing most of the world with his wife Patty. He loved to play golf, was an avid reader and had a great affinity for classic movies. He is predeceased by his parents and a brother, William L. Stultz. He is survived by his wife Patty, daughter Lynn Stultz, son Robert (wife Choux), son Richard (wife Kathy), daughter Sharon Singer (Robert Pashayan), daughter Melanie Jacobs (husband Dennis) and nine grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Stewart Healthcare Center of the Cypress of Charlotte for all of their care and attention to Bob and his family. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Robert L. and Patricia Miller Stultz Scolarship, West Virginia University Foundation, the Association for Retarded Citizens of Mecklenburg County and the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation.

Inurnment will be private. A reception to celebrate Bob’s life will be held at the Cypress of Charlotte on Friday January 10 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. McEwen Pineville Chapel will be serving the family. Online condolences may be left at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com