Robert Steele Obituary

Robert Stuart Steele, Jr., formerly of Oak Ridge, TN, passed away Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in Greenville, SC at the age of 79. He is loved and mourned by his beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara P. Steele, their children, Robert Steele III, Rebecca Ringe, and Susannah Steele-Weigel.
Born in Hickory, NC, Robert was a son of the late Robert Stuart and Charlotte Elizabeth (Alley) Steele. Rob attended North Carolina State University and earned his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in Mechanical Engineering with specializations in Material Sciences.
At the age of 16, one of his first jobs was driving a 97-passenger school bus in Catawba County, but he soon moved on to work in the family propane gas company. He proudly achieved his Eagle Scout in high school, and during college he spent several exciting summers working at Yellowstone National Park. If you know Rob, you probably have heard the story about how to tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear: Climb a tree. If it climbs up after you it's a black bear; if it knocks the tree down, it's a grizzly.
After college he began working in Oak Ridge with the Department of Energy. We know that his first job involved flywheels and uranium, but the rest was a secret. He continued to work at Y-12 National Security Complex for the next 30 years. Upon retirement he took a job consulting with Integrated Manufacturing Technology Initiative. He also taught engineering courses at Pellissippi State, headed up lots of church committees, spent more time with family, and worked on a variety of creative projects at home.
Rob had a lifelong curiosity about how things worked. He spent time woodworking and building models, and taking things apart just to understand them, and then carefully putting them back together (often better than before). He enjoyed exploring his family's history through genealogy and spent countless hours transcribing old diaries to preserve stories from the past. Rob also had a passion for photography, capturing the beauty he saw in everyday life.
For nearly fifty years, Rob was a devoted member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He served faithfully on the vestry and the finance committee, providing leadership to both committees several times throughout his years of service.
While Rob's professional achievements were many and impressive, his true legacy lies in his devotion as a husband, father, and grandfather. He approached every role in life with patience, kindness, and a readiness to help. Rob had a gift for knowing when to lead, when to follow, and when to offer quiet, steady support. He was strong, yet even more gentle; loving and deeply loved. He will be missed more than words can express.
He is survived by wife, Barbara Steele; children, Robert (Helen) Steele III, Rebecca (Gerry) Ringe, and Susannah (David) Steele-Weigel; and grandchildren, Alyxandra (Kyle) Tedder, Myndara Steele, Kal Steele, Emma Ringe, Amanda Ringe, Logan Steele-Weigel, Lucy Steele-Weigel, and Gabriella Steele-Weigel. He is also survived by sisters, Sharyn Vaughn and Leigh Lehan; step mother, Cornelia Steele; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 212 N Tulane Ave, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Immediately following the service, guests are invited to greet the family in the fellowship hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023 and by visiting, https://diabetes.org/.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Rob with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".