Individual Details

Robert Charles Barthle Sr.

(March 6, 1917 - November 6, 1989)

CHARLES BARTHLE

Dr. Robert Charles Barthle (Col. U.S. Army, retired), former Groton resident, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, November 13, 1989. He passed away unexpectedly in Fairfax, Va., November 6, 1989.

Dr. Barthle was born in Groton, March 6, 1917. He attended Groton High School, graduating in 1935. He received a Bachelor of Science in electrical Engineering from South Dakota State University in 1941. In 1948 he received a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He was the first to retrieve radar echoes from the sun as part of his dissertation research. He earned a PhD from Stanford University in 1961.

He served as a signal officer, maintaining communications for General Patton, during World War II. He taught electricity at West Point Military Academy. While stationed in Iran he served as the communications liason to the Shah. After returning to the United States, he worked with Dr. Von Braun at Redstone Arsenal, starting up the Army Ballistic Missile Agency. Dr. Barthle did extensive work on communication satellites for the U.S. Army while stationed at Fort Monmouth, N.J.

Events

BirthMarch 6, 1917SD-Issued South Dakota
Census1920Groton, Brown Co., SD
MarriageDecember 22, 1941Patricia MaryAnne Nilan
DeathNovember 6, 1989Fairfax, VA

Families

SpousePatricia MaryAnne Nilan (1920 - 1988)
ChildRobert Charles Barthle Jr. (1943 - 2018)
ChildMary Patricia Barthle
ChildJohn Antoine Barthle (1955 - 2008)
FatherCharles Joseph Barthle (1878 - 1963)
MotherAnna Martha Petters (1886 - 1921)
SiblingAndrew Charles Barthle (1905 - 1905)
SiblingAndrew Anthony Barthle (1906 - 1987)
SiblingElfrieda "Bonoifacia Frida" Barthle (1908 - 1981)
SiblingHildegarde "Maria Bernadina" Barthle (1910 - 1983)