James Robert (Bob) Wayland, Jr.

James Robert (Bob) Wayland, Jr., a distinguished physicist, devoted family man, fine woodworker, passionate naturalist, whose wonderfully stubborn pursuit of his own path both challenged and enriched those around him, passed away on November 19, 2024, at the age of 87.

Born May 3, 1937, in Plainview, Texas, to James Robert (Bob) Wayland, Sr. and Edna Earl Wayland (née Patterson), Bob's journey through life was marked by an insatiable curiosity about the world around him and a deep appreciation for nature's wonders, sometimes to the exasperation of those around him who just wanted to get to the campsite and eat dinner before the bears came out.

Bob's academic journey began at Texas Technological College, but when the American Association of University Professors censured the institution, he transferred to The University of the South (Sewanee), where he earned his bachelor's degree in Physics in 1960. His passion for scientific discovery led him to the University of Arizona, where he studied under Frank Bowen in the physics department. There, he met Susan Carrie Shier Martz, and what followed was a whirlwind romance that blossomed into a sixty-year marriage.

His distinguished career included work as a health physicist at Lawrence Livermore Labs and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Maryland (1967-1969). As an assistant professor at Texas A&M University, he started a lifelong tradition of doing what interested him rather than what others expected of him by veering away from working on general relativity theory to making significant contributions to agricultural technology, by collaborating on the development of "The Zapper," an innovative microwave-based alternative to chemical herbicides. In 1974, Bob joined Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he moved from project to project like a bee in a rose garden until his retirement in 1999. His research there encompassed crucial projects including the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), artificial rain generation, nuclear test monitoring, and oil shale extraction technologies.  It was during these Albuquerque years that he earned the nickname "Ole Pepper Belly" for his legendary love of chile peppers, which paired nicely with his equally passionate relationship with coffee.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bob was an accomplished woodworker and wildlife photographer, finding joy in capturing nature's beauty through his lens. His diverse interests extended to hiking, camping, science fiction, classical music—particularly opera—and the practice of self-hypnosis and mindfulness. He remained a lifelong learner, deeply fascinated by the fundamental patterns and structures of the universe, our earth, and the human mind—including the peculiarities of his own mind.

Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife Susan, his parents, and his brother Tony Warwick Wayland and sister-in-law Sue Wayland (née Poole). He is survived by his daughters Sarah Catherine Wayland (Alan Keith Thompson) and Jennifer Sabrina Wayland (Matthew Adrian Dailey); his grandchildren Justin Thompson Wayland, Oliver Wayland Thompson, Katherine Grace Dailey, and Lillian Caroline Dailey; and his sweet but mischievous cats, Ellie and Sally.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Sierra Club in honor of Bob's lifelong dedication to preserving and enjoying the majesty of nature. ( https://www.sierraclub.org/ways-to-give )

A memorial service will be held in the next month or so using video conferencing software. E-mail the family at BobWaylandMemorial@gmail.com to get a link.