Robert T. Menton

Robert T. “Bob” Menton, 80, a 29 year resident of Greenville, SC passed away on September 5, 2023 at NHC Greenville, 32 months after being diagnosed with glioblastoma. Born in Queens, NY on December 12, 1942 to Martin D. and Anna (Brienze) Menton, he earned a Bachelor of Science from Cooper Union in NYC, a Master’s of Engineering from the University of Connecticut, and a PhD in Physics from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he later returned to teach graduate classes in Vibrations. He was a lifelong civil servant, first at the Underwater Systems Center in New London, CT and later at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. He designed sonar systems for submarines and towed surveillance arrays for surface ships, and participated in sea tests for developing technologies on research subs out of NS Pearl Harbor.

Thanks to a frugal nature and the vagaries of the 1970s and 1980s economy, he was able to retire at 49 years old and moved to Greenville, SC to be near the Blue Ridge Parkway. In retirement he spent much of his time riding with the Conebutts BMW Motorcycle Club and hanging out at Touring Sport BMW, with occasional cross-country RV trips to ride his K1200GT through different scenery. An amiable man who was more of a listener than a talker, in his lifetime his other hobbies included ham radio operator, gun enthusiast, and amateur photographer. As a teenager he sang with a doo-wop group but never fulfilled his dream of being part of a barbershop singing group. A sci-fi nerd before it was trendy, he eagerly adopted new technologies like the Atari 800, Betamax, and Usenet, and as his health declined, streaming services and power recliners.

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sharon E. (Weed) Menton, daughter Sherry Menton and son-in-law Rick Delashmit, all of Greenville, SC, and their extended families. He was preceded in death by his brother Martin D. Menton, Jr. of Annapolis, MD. He will be interred at Memorial Shrine Cemetery in Wyoming, PA in a private service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Motorcycle Safety Fund (nmsfund.org).