Robert W. Davies, a retired Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. mechanical engineer who assisted in the design of the utility's Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in Southern Maryland, died Tuesday of cancer at the Broadmead retirement community in Cockeysville. He was 90.
The son of James B. Davies, an electrical engineer, and Belle Davies, a registered nurse, Robert Wynter Davies was born in Fort Worth, Texas. Because of his father's work, he was raised in Fort Worth, Shreveport, La., Washington and New Orleans.
After graduating from high school in New Orleans, Mr. Davies entered Texas A&M in 1941, and left in 1943 to serve in the Army. He served during World War II in Southern France and Okinawa with the Corps of Engineers.
After being discharged in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant, he returned to Texas A&M, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1947 on the GI Bill of Right. In 1950, he earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Johns Hopkins University and a master of science degree in 1956 from the Oak Ridge School of Nuclear Technology in Tennessee.
He joined BGE in 1950, where he worked for more than 30 years. He was engaged in the design and project management of a number of the company's electric generating stations, including the Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant in Lusby.
Mr. Davies resigned from BGE in 1981 when he became deputy assistant secretary for the environment for the U.S. Department of Energy. He left DOE in 1985 and was then able to accept early retirement from BGE.
In his retirement, he was a mechanical engineering member and chairman of the Maryland State Board for Professional Engineers for a decade.
In 1951, Mr. Davies married Valerie Edwards and for years the couple lived on Felton Road in Timonium before moving to Broadmead in 1998. She died in 2002.
He was active in a number of Broadmead committees and had been a representative to its board of trustees. He also served as editor of the retirement community's newspaper.
Mr. Davies enjoyed genealogy and photography.
He was a member of Towson Presbyterian Church, the Johns Hopkins Club, Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Revolution.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Broadmead, 13801 York Road.
Mr. Davies is survived by a son, Kenneth F. Davies of Bolton Hill; a daughter, Margaret Davies Tenorio of Spring Branch, Texas; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; and a special friend, Liz Jackson of Broadmead.