Robert Puder

CHICKAMUAGA — Robert George Puder, 88, passed peacefully at home on Monday, April 24, 2017. He was preceded by his parents, George and Emma Foster Puder, of Dunkirk, N.Y.; and his wife, Henrietta Hartsulker Puder. He is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Douglas Lee; and granddaughters, Katelyn, Madelyn, and Arilyn Lee, of Chickamauga, Ga. After growing up in Dunkirk, N.Y., where his father owned the local bakery, he attended Michigan State University, where he met his wife. He was called to serve during the Korean War, where he was sent to do hospital and laboratory work, spending much of his time in San Antonio, Texas and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, working on the development of important vaccines, actually experiencing Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis. After serving his time in the Army, he returned to Michigan State, where he completed his degree in chemistry and then studied at R.I.T. He went to work for the DuPont Company after college, spending some time in New Jersey, then transferred to the newly built New Johnsonville, Tennessee plant and settled in Camden, Tenn. He was the Control Lab Supervisor there for many years and was known as “Sweet Ole Bob” – or often just the initials. His wife and he moved to Chickamauga in 2005, to be closer to family. He was active in the community in and around Camden, Tenn., for many years being a member of the Freemasons for 50 years, the Elks Club, the Benton County Saddle Club (Where he grilled thousands of hamburgers), among other groups as well as Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church, Chickamauga, Ga. He had a passion for hunting, fishing and conservation-being very active with Ducks Unlimited and with a group that distributed wood duck boxes on Kentucky Late and enjoyed feeding the wild birds in this yard. He will be missed by many. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017, at Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Chickamauga City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, at the funeral home. Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home-J. Avery Bryan Chapel, Chickamauga.