Robert Gaylord was a MIDDLE child, born in MIDDLE America, to Roy and Myrtle MIDDLETON, a farming couple in Iowa. Born at home, as was common in those days, the humorous typo on his birth certificate was 'Robbie Garland', and as an adult, he was given the not-so-humorous distinction of 'notch baby'. He grew up 'purt near' center of the United States, a quaint little city named Centerville (named after W.T. Senter, the town later changed to the present spelling).

It was the beginning of what is now called 'The Greatest Generation' of Americans, with WW1 having passed and the Great Depression looming. Bob's family was somewhat poor, like many in the Depression years. A boy with five older and five younger siblings, Bobby enjoyed the era's simple childhood ways, even if he used the heads of wheat as 'chewing gum', played marbles, pitched rocks, or used a stick for a baseball bat. Yet, as he grew, America grew, the Great Depression ended, and his hometown became noted among the finest town squares in the midwest. He was a Homecoming King in '39, a graduate from Centerville High in '40, and known as 'Middie' by high school team-mates. Bob attended Ames Junior College before going on to Iowa State. Centerville was central to dozens of Mines, which sparked Bob's interest to initially study geology and gemology, afterward attending US Naval Officer School in Chicago in '42.

Bob was Lt. J.G. in the US Navy during W.W.11, and served honorably for 4 years, 1943-46. His ship was the U.S.S. Dyess, a DD-880 Gearing-class destroyer which had been converted to a 'Radar-picket' weighing more than 2,600 tons. (Add another 800 tons for her General Electric steam turbines, torpedoes, dual-purpose/anti-aircraft guns to see in your mind's eye a grand-total of 3,600 tons of shiny, American steel.) One supposes for a future metallurgist and a naval gunnery commander, the Dyess must have been a 'dream' boat. He did not see battle because, while they took their 'shakedown cruise', the war ended on Sept. 2, 1945. However, together with the crew of Dyess, he sailed from Norfolk, Virginia on November 7th to join the 5th Fleet in Japan for duty. He remembered the congested harbor and somber air in Tokyo Bay as they arrived on December 19th after 5 weeks sail on open seas. The troops and dignitaries were flooding in by air, land, and sea for 'the occupation' and for military meetings. His tour of 'occupation' duty complete by Springtime in 1946, the Dyess crew sailed to San Francisco and from there, Bob returned to his home in Iowa by railroad.

Several weeks later, he married the lovely Sylvania 'Sally' Ranes in the scorching Summer of '46, and they would eventually have six children. This was his most important work — patriarch of a big family. Their first child was born when they lived in the married student's trailer village while attending the School of MINES in Colorado. There, Bob graduated with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering on July 9, 1949. Sally was a new momma, and featured in The Denver Post for her work at the MINES in manufacturing the unique, silver-plated diplomas that were awarded to the metalurgist graduates (see article,'The Silver Sheepskin', May 22, 1949). They went on to have 4 more children after returning to the 'Heartland' and their sixth child was born after their move to Florida. This last baby was extra-special to him because he helped deliver 'her' at home when she 'came suddenly' one morning while he was dressing for the workday. This happened, in a day-and-age when people feigned that a giant 'Stork' delivered babies and when men were trained to pace the maternity hospital corridors and distribute celebratory cigars, "Have a baby! My wife just had a cigar!"

A long career in metallurgical engineering and chemical processing began after graduating from the 'Mines'. R.G. was the first metallurgist employed by the Maytag Company and went on to work for Solar Aircraft, Westinghouse, Atomics Intl. and finally, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. America's 'Space Program' at full throttle, and with top-secret clearances at P&W, he was one of the lead consulting engineers for the development of high-tech metals used on aircraft such as the SR71 and the RL-10 Space Shuttle main engine. He also helped develop advanced welding technology for the thrust vector nozzles on the YF-22 Raptor. In 1976, while Supervisor of Fabrication Research for PWA/United Technologies, he was given U.S. patent # 3,936,656 as Middleton et al, for developing a special metal process.

His love of sports began at an early age while playing ball with his dad. That love was further developed as he played 4 years of baseball, basketball and football on the Centerville High 'Reds'. He continued playing baseball and basketball into his 30's and by age 40 he began coaching for his children, then later, for grandchildren. Involved in youth athletics throughout Palm Beach County, Florida for more than 40 years as both a coach and umpire, 'Coach Bob' also served many years as Director of the P.B.G.Y.A.A. It was his joy to help kids be the best sportsmen/women they could be.

Bob loved music and believed, "You can never have too much". A member of the Glee Club in college, he later taught himself guitar, balalaika, and banjo, as well he could whistle or warble with the best of instrumentalists. From youth, most knew him as quiet and unassuming about his school rankings and a budding faith, but he thoroughly enjoyed being a Bible teacher when his children were young (see PB Post Times article, 'Family…' page 17, April 22,1962) and he continued his own education through reading and research. Nutrition and vitamin therapy became areas of expertise that benefited many.

Together with his wife, Bob managed Trails West Riding Ranch as an avocation in his 50s/60s, reconnecting with 'farm life' and somewhat recapturing simpler times. This balanced his career and his responsibilities for a large family as he enjoyed family riding, gardening, and caring for their small livestock and horses at the ranch. Retired at 66, a cancer survivor at age 75, and a recipient of triple bypass heart surgery at 89, to his family's amazement he personally maintained the 4 bdrm. homestead, lawn equipment, and family cars until his death at age 91 from I.U.O.! (An infection of unknown origin.) His dying wish/prayer, as told to his children at the time of his grandson's death, was that none of his children or grandchildren would miss out on Heaven...that all would give their lives to honor the Lord Jesus Christ, maker of Heaven and Earth.

"We envision him sliding safely into his heavenly 'Home-Base' to rejoin daughter Connie, grandson Brandon, and all loved ones of like faith." He is survived by his wife of 66 years whom he called 'his little Sally'; his brother Jack; his sister Donna; and his children; Cathy (Cate), Patrick, Linda, Mark, and Lisa; plus 9 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren.