Robert B. Guyer, 67, of State College, died unexpectedly Thursday, July 12, 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He was born at Nason Hospital in Roaring Spring on July 11, 1945, a son of the late Robert W. and Eris I. (Shaw) Guyer.
On March 16, 1974, he married Jennifer Sue Davis in Johnstown.
He is survived by his wife and two children: son, Robert C.C. of Dillsburg, PA and daughter Holly J. (Robert) Siegel of Columbia, MD, along with the joy of his life, infant granddaughter Julianna Joy Siegel. Also surviving are siblings Carol (Ed) Detwiler of San Antonio, TX; Sandy (Jim) Caporuscio of Martinsburg, PA, Thomas H. of Salt Lake City, UT and Kim Wagner of State College, as well as several nieces and nephews and many cousins.
A 1963 graduate of Central High School in Martinsburg, he received a B.S. Degree in Biochemistry from Penn State in 1967. He served in the Brethren Volunteer Service from 1967-69 and worked as a Laboratory Technician at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and at NIH National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD from 1968-73. In 1973 he began his employment at Penn State as a Research Aide in the Dept. of Poultry Science. He worked in various research labs in the Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Dept. of Food Science, and the Dept. of Crop and Soil Science. Known as “Lab Dad” to dozens of graduate students, he retired in 2008 after 35 years of service. He is also a lifetime member of the Penn State Alumni Association. In addition to his career at Penn State, he has always been a farmer. Most notably, he worked as crop manager for Kulp Family Dairy (formerly LarAnn Farm) in Martinsburg from 1973 until his death. Sitting atop a John Deere tractor, he enjoyed planting and harvesting crops every year as well as managing soil nutrient programs.
He also enjoyed Pittsburgh Pirates baseball, Penn State football, and his two cats, Daisy and Oreo.
He was a member of the Clover Creek Church of the Brethren in rural Martinsburg and the State College Christian Missionary Alliance Church.
Visitation will be 5-8 pm Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at the State College Christian Missionary Alliance Church, 1221 West Whitehall Road, State College and from 9 -11 am Thursday, July 19, 2012 at the Clover Creek Church of the Brethren, 218 Rebecca Furnace Road, Martinsburg, PA. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 at the church with the Reverend David Banaszak officiating. Interment will be in Dry Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County https://www.habitatgcc.org or to Penn State University http://giveto.psu.edu
A guest book can be signed or condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com