Robert Kerr, age 91, of Greenville, DE, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Born in Norristown, PA, to the late Thomas R. and Claire R. Kerr, he was educated in the Norristown public schools and graduated from Norristown High School. He then attended Penn State University for two years before entering the U.S. Naval Aviation Cadet Program.
After intensive flight training in Pensacola, FL, and Beeville, TX, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and was awarded his “Navy Wings of Gold” as a Naval Aviator — his goal since age 14 — in May 1956. He served aboard the USS Intrepid (CVA-11) and at NAS Oceana, VA, as a jet fighter pilot until his honorable discharge from active duty in 1958.
He reentered college at Villanova University in September 1958. That December, he married Eleanor J. Dolan, also of Norristown, at St. Patrick’s Church. The following October, they celebrated the birth of their first child, a daughter. Balancing family life and work, he graduated cum laude with a B.S. in May 1961.
He then joined the Naval Air Development Center in Johnsville, PA, where he was involved in training the original seven Project Mercury astronauts, while continuing to fly in the Naval Reserve at NAS Willow Grove, PA. During this time, the family grew with the addition of two sons.
In 1964, the family moved to Delaware, where he began his career with Avon Products, Inc. He held a variety of management positions across the East Coast before returning to Delaware as General Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Region, based in Newark. In 1965, their fourth child, a daughter, was born. In 1977, he was named Director of Field Operations for the Pacific Region, a role that required extensive worldwide travel.
Seeking to spend more time in Delaware, he joined Hercules Inc. in 1978. At Hercules, he held a variety of management positions and retired as Worldwide Director of the Fragrance Division.
In retirement, he found great fulfillment volunteering with CONTACT, a crisis helpline, and enjoyed many hobbies, including duck hunting and fishing. Above all, he cherished his 67 years as a devoted husband to his loving wife, Eleanor, and took great pride in being a father to his four children: Kathleen Cronshaw, Tom Kerr, Drew Kerr, and Trish Kerr.
He was also a proud grandfather to six grandchildren—Ryan Cronshaw (Jeff Edmonds), Megan Cronshaw, Patrick Cronshaw (Nikki), Sarah K. Regester (Ben), Alexander Kerr, and Timothy Kerr—and a great-grandfather to three great-grandchildren: James Regester, Isabel Regester, and Delaney Cronshaw.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held privately at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Catholic Church, Greenville, DE.
