August 8, 1929 – January 4, 2024

Robert L. Wiley Jr., of Mercer Island, was born on August 8, 1929 to Robert L. Wiley (Sr.) and T. Louise Durham Wiley and passed away on January 4, 2024 following a very brief illness. He attended public school in Chippewa Falls,Wisconsin where he was active in athletics, debate, Boy Scouts, achieving Eagle Rank. Following graduation he attended Phillips Exeter Academy prior to attending Harvard University. At Harvard he served as advertising manager of the Harvard Crimson and was in the NROTC program as a company commander. He majored in economics and graduated with Cum Laude Honors in 1952.

His college roommate arranged a trick meeting which brought Bob and Mary Ann Townsend together. A wonderful and lasting relationship developed and they later married following her graduation from Wellesley College in 1953.

Following college graduation Bob was commissioned an Ensign and served three years of active duty in the Navy on a destroyer and a troop transport, where he served as the ship’s Boat Group Commander. Following his Navy duty he attended the Harvard Business school where he was a Baker Scholar and graduated Magna Cum Laude. He served on the Harvard faculty for one year prior to joining Boise Cascade Corporation in Boise, Idaho where he served as general manager of one of the company’s divisions. Following the sale of that division, Bob and Mary Ann and their two children moved to Seattle where Bob was Assistant to the Chairman of the Simpson Timber Company before becoming President of an affiliated company, Simlog. Following its sale, Bob and Mary Ann bought and ran an appliance distributorship with dealers in Washington and Alaska. He ended his career as a partner in a west coast management consulting firm.

The family moved to Mercer Island in 1964, where Bob and Mary Ann enjoyed gardening and sailing. Bob also enjoyed mountain climbing and summited Mt. Rainier twice, all the major peaks in Washington, Mt. Hood in Oregon, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Mt. Fuji in Japan.

He served on the board of The Rainier Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the United Way. His major interests were as a director at the Pacific Science Center, Planned Parenthood of the Greater Northwest, and as a docent and board member of the Burke Museum for over twenty five years. He was very active in fund raising for the “New” Burke, which was built in 2019. He was president of the Chief Seattle Council Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award and the Silver Antelope Award.

Bob and Mary Ann were married for 60 years. Bob actively helped Mary Ann in her successful effort to fund and build the new gatehouse village entrance to the Japanese Garden in 2008. In acknowledgement of Mary Ann’s leadership she posthumously received The Denny Award from Seattle Parks and Recreation. In 2018 Bob and Mary Ann were honored with the National Philanthropy Day Award for Outstanding Philanthropists.

In 2013 Bob was preceded in death by Mary Ann, his wife of 60 years. He is survived by daughter Ann Wiley of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Robert L. Wiley III of Durham, North Carolina and three granddaughters Marene Lemm(Drake), Reagan Rose (Kyler), and Tory Wiley. In July 2022, he became a great grandfather when Eleanor was born to Marene and Drake Lemm.

Bob will be remembered for his exceptional kindness and generosity, his sincere interest in others, his boundless curiosity and his endless desire to serve.

A memorial service will be held at the Congregational Church on Mercer Island on February 17th at 1:00 p.m. where Bob was an active and beloved member for over two decades.

In lieu of flowers donations may be given to the Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Japanese Garden or the Boy Scouts of America.

The following email address may be used to contact the family or receive the Zoom link for the memorial service: BobWileyMemorial@gmail.com