Robert Penrose Barber, 84, of Georgetown, formerly of Felicity, died May 20 at his home.

Barber attended Felicity Franklin School through sixth grade and the “war years” were spent at Ohio Military Academy in College Hill, while his father was a medical officer in the United States Army. He returned to finish high school in Felicity and after graduation, he entered the United States Navy and became an official naval photographer. He then attended Rochester General Hospital where he received a degree in medical photography and was employed by the Decatur and Macon County Hospital in Illinois as their staff photographer.

He received a master’s degree in biological science from the University of Illinois In 1968 and transferred after two years to University of Illinois Circle campus where he pursued an additional degree in neurology. He was asked in 1970 to join a new group of research scientists at City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif. He remained at this endeavor for the next 35 years until his retirement in 2006.

He is survived by his wife Joyce of 57 years, daughter Rebecca Barber, granddaughters Jennifer and Rachel, three great-granddaughters and brothers Donald Barber and Stephen Barber.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dr. Cecil F. and Gladys Barber, son Anthony Barber and sister Marilyn Eich.

Visitation 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. memorial service May 25 at Cahall Funeral Home in Georgetown. Memorials to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, 4370 Glendale-Milford Rd., Blue Ash, OH 45242.