Robert W. Putnam, PhD

Dr. Robert Wilson Putnam, 65, Dayton, Ohio, passed away on Monday April 10 surrounded by his family after a brief but intense struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Bob was born in Wilmington, DE, to Pearl Corliss and Stearns Putnam. He graduated from Brown University and achieved his PhD from University of California Los Angeles. After completing his postdoctoral fellowship at Washington University in St Louis, he spent thirty years as a professor at Wright State University’s School of Medicine. There he served on the admissions committee, created the STREAMS program to increase minority involvement in the sciences, mentored countless students and junior faculty, and was well-published and well-respected in his fields of intracellular pH and respiratory physiology. He adored children, volunteering his time in tutoring, Sunday School, coaching, and countless other activities.

Bob was full of light and love and touched many lives. He will be incredibly missed, but would want us to dwell not on the sadness of his loss but the happiness of our memories with him.

Bob is preceded in death by his daughter, Lisa Henson Hammontree. He is survived by his loving wife, Lois Henson, his daughters, Kathleen Kersh, Anna Kersh, and Laura Chambers-Kersh, his grandchildren Alexander and Hannah Hammontree, his sister and brother-in-law Carole and Dave Wood, his brother and sister-in-law Steve and Priscilla Putnam, as well as nieces, a nephew, and great nieces and nephews.

We will come together to celebrate Bob’s life on Friday, April 14, at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church, 6759 S. County Rd. 25A, Tipp City. Family will receive friends at 10 a.m. and a memorial service will begin at 12 p.m. Visitation will continue at a luncheon at the church following the service.

Arrangements are being made by Morton and Whetstone Funeral Home in Vandalia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Robert W. Putnam Charitable Fund at the Dayton Foundation (Fund # 7956). Donations can be made by contacting the Dayton Foundation or the funeral home. Link to the foundation: https://www.daytonfoundation.org/ccgift.html?fund=The_ Robert_W._Putnam_Charitable_ Fund_#7956