Richard A. Volz

Richard A. Volz, Texas, 75, formerly of Woodstock, died Wednesday, June 19, 2013, after a battle with cancer.

He was born July 10, 1937, in Woodstock to Helen and Emil Volz.

He was an Eagle Scout and a Scout leader.

He received his BS, MS and PhD in electrical engineering from Northwestern University, Evanston. He was head of the Computer Science Department of Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, from 1988 to 1997.

He was the founding director of the Robotics Research Laboratory and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich., from 1964 to 1988.

He served on five federal advisory boards: The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, the Ada Board, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Board, the NASA Space Station Advisory Panel and the NASA Center of Excellence in Information Technology Advisory Panel.

He and his wife traveled around the country and to Australia, New Zealand and the Panama Canal. 

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Mary; a daughter, Cindy (Bill); a son, Rick, and his girlfriend, Lisa Sutter; a son Keith; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Becky Chisum; a brother, Howard (Sara); a sister-in-law, Carole Volz; two brothers-in-law, Karl (Marilyn) Jensen and Ed Jensen; and numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Ken.

A service celebrating his life was July 1 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, College Station, Texas. Memorials can be sent to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1001 Woodcreek Drive, College Station, TX 77845; or to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840; to the Richard A. Volz Memorial Scholarship.