Robert (Bob) Peter Mertens, 82, of Strasburg, VA passed away on September 24, 2014 at the Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, VA

Born in Rochester, New York, February 8, 1932, he was the son of Jacob Peter and Celia (Oyster) Mertens. He attended Edison Technical and Industrial High School in Rochester and in 1951 he joined the United States Navy. He served four years on the destroyer tender US Hamul AD 20 as a machinist repairman first class during the Korean War. In 1955 he entered Buffalo State Teachers College where he obtained his Master Degree in Industrial Arts Education. He taught at the School for the Blind in Batavia, New York and then moved to State College, PA to begin work on his Doctorate at Penn State in 1963. He obtained his Doctorate in Industrial Technology from Penn State in 1971.

While working on his Doctorate, he taught at the University of Maryland and the University of Maine at Gorham, ME. In 1972 the family moved to Nova Scotia where Bob taught for twenty years at the Nova Scotia Teachers College until his retirement in 1992. While in Nova Scotia he became a valued member of the Truro Lions Club and also joined the Masonic Lodge. His mother Lodge was Truro Lodge #43. He was also a member of Philae Temple in Halifax and the Truro Shrine Club. He held offices in the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia and was District Deputy for the Grand Lodge.

He and his wife, Barbara moved to Lapford, Devon in England in 1992 to live their dream of retiring to Great Britain. There he became a member of Unity Lodge #1332 in Crediton, Devon and became the Past Master of The Lodge of Prudent Brethern in London and Secretary of the Atholl Association in London, England. He was also appointed a Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Guild of Freeman.

Following the death of his wife, Barbara, he married Irene M. Finlayson, of Sydney, Nova Scotia. In 2001 they moved from Lapford to Middletown, VA where they resided for six years prior to moving to Strasburg, VA in 2007. He became a member of the Middletown Heritage Society, the Middletown Garden Club, and became a docent at Belle Grove Plantation. He also joined Unity Lodge, #146, A.F. and A.M. of Front Royal and the VFW Post, #2447 of Edinburg, VA. He was also a member of the National Sojourners, Shenandoah Chapter #543 and the Heroes of '76, Carl L. Sitter Camp. He was also a member and Elder of Woodstock Presbyterian Church, Woodstock, VA.

Bob was predeceased by his parents and his first wife, Barbara Ellis Mertens. He is survived by his wife, Irene Marie Mertens, and his daughter, Kate Mertens of Newington, CT, and his son, Jeff, of Rocky Hill, CT. Also two brothers, Howard Berg of N. Granby, CT and Ron Mertens of Groveland, MA. He is also survived by two grandsons, Braydon Mertens and Riordan Mertens and a granddaughter, Lily Mertens.

There will be no viewing. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 28, 2014 at Woodstock Presbyterian Church, 142 E. Court St., Woodstock, VA at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home for Children and the Shriners Hospitals for Children.