Robert M. Jimeson, Jr.
January 29, 1921 ~ July 31, 2016
Robert MacKay Jimeson, Jr. was an internationally recognized expert in the fields of energy and fuels, environmental management and chemical engineering. The father of solvent refined coal, a process that produces a high quality, low ash and sulfur fuel from coal, he invented Methacoal, a unique and more easily transportable mixture of coal and methane.
Born to Robert MacKay and Marie Huepel Jimeson in Charleroi, Pennsylvania on January 29, 1921, he graduated from Charleroi High School in 1939 where he played football and was the top player on his Junior Davis Cup tennis team. He also had a short-lived career as the center for the Jenkins Flowers professional basketball team. He participated in the debate team, the chorus and the school plays. During high school, he paved bicycle paths, cleared storm sewers, cut grass along highways and fixed bikes at a bicycle repair shop. He was known as a great dancer at the soft drink nightclubs.
Bob then went on to attend the Pennsylvania State University. He studied chemical engineering and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, where he served as president for two years. He received a Bachelor of Science in December 1942. He earned his M.S. in Engineering Administration from The George Washington University and undertook graduate studies in Public Administration and Systems Analysis at American University and Stanford on the Hubert Humphrey Mid-Career Educational Program. During World War II, he was employed by Glenn L. Martin in Baltimore and Middle River, Maryland, designing airplanes. During this time, he designed the master lines of the Martin B-26 Marauder, the flying wing, and a dive bomber.
Following the war, he became an organic synthesis fellow for Union Carbide at the Mellon Institute for Industrial Research in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, he met his future wife, Rose Marie Wolny. In his new position, he conducted research and development of chemical products that were useful in industrial, commercial, medical and agricultural activities. He formulated about 500 products including weed killers, insecticides, insect repellents, cosmetic formulas, perfumes, floor waxes, and shaving creams. He also remained committed to energy enhancement, designing surface-active agents to concentrate uranium and developing processes to convert coal to oil and gas. His inventions were put to work extracting shale oil in Brazil, removing ash and sulfur from coal by solvent refining and removing contaminants from processes used around the world.
In 1948, Bob began work for the federal government at the Bureau of Mines in the Synthetic Fuels Program in Bruceton, Pennsylvania. He was then transferred to Washington, D.C., to work at the Department of Interior as a Physical Science Administrator where he received the Department of the Interior Award for his coal-to-oil research. When he moved on to the Department of Energy, he coordinated the U.S. energy and environmental programs at the National Coal Board in England, Scotland, Italy and Yugoslavia. He was responsible for specialized coordination and review of the environmental health and safety aspects for the research, development and demonstration technologies of fossil energy. He prepared the petroleum and petrochemical research plan in Saudi Arabia, was the program planner for the newly created Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate air and water pollution, and went on to the Federal Power Commission to be an advisor on environmental quality. Before leaving government service, he was an advisor to the United States Congress on environmental and energy policy.
In the 1980s, Bob started RMJ Associates consulting firm where he represented a number of U.S. companies as the Washington, D.C., representative. He is a co-founder of Standard Alcohol of America. At this time, he partnered with Keller Technology Corporation to develop Methacoal and water distilling technology.
He was a registered Professional Engineer and a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Air Pollution Control Association and the Association of Public Program Analysts. In 1977, he was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, in recognition and appreciation of his superior attainments and his valuable contributions and service to chemical engineering. He served as the Chairman of the National Capital Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the President of the Coal Club of Washington and the Chairman of the National Capital Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He is listed in American Men of Science, Who's Who in the East and the Directory of Distinguished Americans and Community Leaders of America. He has published 53 journal articles and one book in the area of synthetic fuels, energy and the environment. The last of his many patents was for mixed alcohol fuels for internal combustion engines, furnaces, boilers, kilns, gasifiers and slurry transportation.
Bob loved studying, teaching and discussing science and religion. In religion, Bob was a lay preacher. He was active in Bible study and Sunday school at Wesley United Methodist Church. He previously taught the College Career Fellowship at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church. He was devoted to his church and to his pastor, Ray Brill. He enjoyed singing with the "third pew quartet" which consisted of Jeannette Miller, Johanna Covel and Michal Zuehlke. In science, his love of teaching was also expressed in classes he taught in math, chemistry, metallurgy and engineering drawing at The George Washington University and Penn State.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Rose Marie Jimeson. They had four children, Robyn Marie Jimeson, Shelley Ann Jimeson, husband Ray Puglia, Robert MacKay Jimeson III, wife Janet Harlan Jimeson and Jeffrey Scott Jimeson, wife Donna Jimeson. He raised his adored grandchildren Mishann Jimeson Lepley, husband Master Chief Eric Todd Lepley and Melissa Grace Jimeson as his own. His other much-loved grandchildren are David Jimeson Puglia, Ph.D., Haley Ann Puglia, First Lieutenant Max Jimeson, Alex Michael Jimeson, Carly Elizabeth Jimeson, Robert MacKay Jimeson IV, and Taylor Jimeson Owens. He has six great grandchildren, Jackson Robert Lepley, Hayden Grace Lepley, Harlan Grace Jimeson, Avery Rose Jimeson, Robert MacKay Jimeson V, and Cade Parker Owens.
Bob passed away in his home on Sunday, July 31, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 95 years old.
A memorial service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 711 Spring St, SE, Vienna, Virginia 22180, on Sunday, August 14, 2016, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment Fund.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Born to Robert MacKay and Marie Huepel Jimeson in Charleroi, Pennsylvania on January 29, 1921, he graduated from Charleroi High School in 1939 where he played football and was the top player on his Junior Davis Cup tennis team. He also had a short-lived career as the center for the Jenkins Flowers professional basketball team. He participated in the debate team, the chorus and the school plays. During high school, he paved bicycle paths, cleared storm sewers, cut grass along highways and fixed bikes at a bicycle repair shop. He was known as a great dancer at the soft drink nightclubs.
Bob then went on to attend the Pennsylvania State University. He studied chemical engineering and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, where he served as president for two years. He received a Bachelor of Science in December 1942. He earned his M.S. in Engineering Administration from The George Washington University and undertook graduate studies in Public Administration and Systems Analysis at American University and Stanford on the Hubert Humphrey Mid-Career Educational Program. During World War II, he was employed by Glenn L. Martin in Baltimore and Middle River, Maryland, designing airplanes. During this time, he designed the master lines of the Martin B-26 Marauder, the flying wing, and a dive bomber.
Following the war, he became an organic synthesis fellow for Union Carbide at the Mellon Institute for Industrial Research in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, he met his future wife, Rose Marie Wolny. In his new position, he conducted research and development of chemical products that were useful in industrial, commercial, medical and agricultural activities. He formulated about 500 products including weed killers, insecticides, insect repellents, cosmetic formulas, perfumes, floor waxes, and shaving creams. He also remained committed to energy enhancement, designing surface-active agents to concentrate uranium and developing processes to convert coal to oil and gas. His inventions were put to work extracting shale oil in Brazil, removing ash and sulfur from coal by solvent refining and removing contaminants from processes used around the world.
In 1948, Bob began work for the federal government at the Bureau of Mines in the Synthetic Fuels Program in Bruceton, Pennsylvania. He was then transferred to Washington, D.C., to work at the Department of Interior as a Physical Science Administrator where he received the Department of the Interior Award for his coal-to-oil research. When he moved on to the Department of Energy, he coordinated the U.S. energy and environmental programs at the National Coal Board in England, Scotland, Italy and Yugoslavia. He was responsible for specialized coordination and review of the environmental health and safety aspects for the research, development and demonstration technologies of fossil energy. He prepared the petroleum and petrochemical research plan in Saudi Arabia, was the program planner for the newly created Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate air and water pollution, and went on to the Federal Power Commission to be an advisor on environmental quality. Before leaving government service, he was an advisor to the United States Congress on environmental and energy policy.
In the 1980s, Bob started RMJ Associates consulting firm where he represented a number of U.S. companies as the Washington, D.C., representative. He is a co-founder of Standard Alcohol of America. At this time, he partnered with Keller Technology Corporation to develop Methacoal and water distilling technology.
He was a registered Professional Engineer and a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Air Pollution Control Association and the Association of Public Program Analysts. In 1977, he was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, in recognition and appreciation of his superior attainments and his valuable contributions and service to chemical engineering. He served as the Chairman of the National Capital Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the President of the Coal Club of Washington and the Chairman of the National Capital Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He is listed in American Men of Science, Who's Who in the East and the Directory of Distinguished Americans and Community Leaders of America. He has published 53 journal articles and one book in the area of synthetic fuels, energy and the environment. The last of his many patents was for mixed alcohol fuels for internal combustion engines, furnaces, boilers, kilns, gasifiers and slurry transportation.
Bob loved studying, teaching and discussing science and religion. In religion, Bob was a lay preacher. He was active in Bible study and Sunday school at Wesley United Methodist Church. He previously taught the College Career Fellowship at Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church. He was devoted to his church and to his pastor, Ray Brill. He enjoyed singing with the "third pew quartet" which consisted of Jeannette Miller, Johanna Covel and Michal Zuehlke. In science, his love of teaching was also expressed in classes he taught in math, chemistry, metallurgy and engineering drawing at The George Washington University and Penn State.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Rose Marie Jimeson. They had four children, Robyn Marie Jimeson, Shelley Ann Jimeson, husband Ray Puglia, Robert MacKay Jimeson III, wife Janet Harlan Jimeson and Jeffrey Scott Jimeson, wife Donna Jimeson. He raised his adored grandchildren Mishann Jimeson Lepley, husband Master Chief Eric Todd Lepley and Melissa Grace Jimeson as his own. His other much-loved grandchildren are David Jimeson Puglia, Ph.D., Haley Ann Puglia, First Lieutenant Max Jimeson, Alex Michael Jimeson, Carly Elizabeth Jimeson, Robert MacKay Jimeson IV, and Taylor Jimeson Owens. He has six great grandchildren, Jackson Robert Lepley, Hayden Grace Lepley, Harlan Grace Jimeson, Avery Rose Jimeson, Robert MacKay Jimeson V, and Cade Parker Owens.
Bob passed away in his home on Sunday, July 31, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 95 years old.
A memorial service will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church, 711 Spring St, SE, Vienna, Virginia 22180, on Sunday, August 14, 2016, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church Permanent Endowment Fund.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Fond memories of teaching s s Class together at Wesley.
Psalms 90:10,12 says The span of our life is 70 years,Or 80 if one is especially strong. But they are filled with trouble and sorrow; They quickly pass by, and away we fly. Teach us how to count our days so that we may aquire the heart of wisdom. Mr Jimeson Jr acquired that heart of wisdom, by learning about his creator Jehovah! Not too long ago, Mr Jimeson told me one thing he wanted to do for the rest of his life- to help provide clean drinking water for the world especially in developing countries. How true is the scripture at Ecclesiastes 9:11-12! There is one thing that both Mr Jimeson and I, as well as over 8 million Jehovah’s witnesses in the world share, the resurrection hope that God has promised. I am looking forward to seeing my best friend whom I call Grandpa back to life in Paradise on earth, where God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore, the former things have passed away- Reveation 21:4
Tough to lose Bob, but such is the web of life is what he would have said to us. His wisdom was abounding in science, technology and politics. His wisdom of human nature was always slanted for the positive in people. May Bob Rest in Peace, as he was such a kind spirit, intelligent and alert unto the end, and most appreciative of his family, friends and faith in this world plus the afterlife. I last talked with him in April of this year with his great energy and ideas flowing. In the past week, before knowing of his passing, I set upon my desk his name and phone number because I wanted to talk with him again. Perhaps he was sending me a message. May all his family and friends find peace too in knowing and loving Bob in this life, and still think and talk with him forever.