Obituary of Robert H Lamason

Gainesville, FL – Robert "Bob" Hopkins Lamason, 96, died January 1, 2016 at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center, Trenton, FL. Bob was born near Williamsport, Pennsylvania on August 8, 1919 to the late Nelle May Hopkins and James Paxton Lamason. He is also preceded in death by his brother William Hamilton Lamason and his wife of nearly 45 years, Barbara Gillespie Lamason. Bob is survived by his daughter, Ruthanne Lamason Curry and her husband Robert W. "Whit" Curry, Jr., M.D. of Gainesville; his son James Hopkins Lamason and his wife Beverly Bateman Lamason of Middlesex, NJ; another son William Hamilton Lamason, II and his wife Pamela Rosser Lamason of Chapel Hill, NC; six grandchildren, Mary Katherine Curry Wimsett and her husband Gary D. Wimsett, Jr., and Robert L. Curry, all of Gainesville, Heather Marie Lamason of Alpharetta, GA, Stephen James Lamason of Middlesex, Rosser Hopkins Lamason of Lebanon, PA and Blair Hillmon Lamason of Raleigh, NC; and three great-grandchildren Emma, Charlotte and Lily Wimsett. He is also survived by his second wife Gladys Lamason of Gainesville and her family. Bob was a research chemist, singer, traveler, story teller and loving son, brother, parent, grandparent and great-grandparent. He graduated from Williamsport High School and from Duke University in Durham, NC with a BS in Chemistry in 1942. He accepted employment in the chemistry field near Bound Brook, NJ. After World War II, he began work with the Permacel subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ where he worked the next 38 years. Working with Johnson & Johnson, Bob researched industrial adhesives and developed many products that are still in use today, holding several patents for his product improvements. He also worked with other adhesives and brought tape prototypes and adhesive bandages home for informal experiments in his backyard. Bob was recognized for his creativity and work with a career technical achievement award by Avery Corporation after their purchase of the Permacel subsidiary. In Bound Brook, Bob married Barbara in 1943, raising their three children and remained there until after Barbara's death. Bob was a caring and involved father to his children, supporting their interests and exploration while teaching responsibility. As his family grew, he built an addition on the family home to provide a third bedroom. He also allowed the construction of a "play shack" in the backyard, and funded many long summer vacations at the Jersey Shore where his children were free to explore and play. He enabled all of his children to pursue their interest in music and became one of the founders and a six year-president of the Bound Brook High School Band Parents Association. He enjoyed singing in the Duke Glee Club, in a barber shop quartet after college and then in church choirs throughout his life. In 1988, Bob moved to Gainesville, FL to be with his daughter and her family and became an avid Gator fan, attending football and basketball games. He also volunteered at the UF Performing Arts Center where he served as Head usher and also met his second wife Gladys. During his retirement, Bob golfed at West End Golf Club and enjoyed traveling to Europe, taking cruises, hiking in the NC Smokey Mountains, swimming at beaches and visiting family and friends along the east coast. Memorial service at Bishop Janes United Methodist Church, Basking Ridge, NJ on January 17th at 2 pm. Family will receive friends at the church 1 hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Robert to the Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center, Nursing Education Fund, 606 NE 7th Street, Trenton, FL 32693 are suggested.