He was born in St. Paul, MN, attended the University of North Dakota, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1958, He received his Ph.D. in 1962 from the University of Wisconsin, specializing in mathematical physics; particle accelerators, and fusion energy. In 1964, he joined the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a research physicist.

In 1994 he retired from a position as section head for plasma physics theory and computing in the Fusion Energy Division of ORNL. He was a Fellow of the American Physical Society.

Bob was an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying hiking, climbing, camping, sailing, caving, and mountaineering. He especially enjoyed family camping trips out West.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret of Oak Ridge; mother and sister, Thora Solberg Dory and Connie Dory Bye, both of Bismarck, N.D.; children, Amanda Dory and Dwight Gibbs of Alexandria, Va., and three grandchildren, Thora, Perry, and Lila Gibbs; Jennifer Dory and Larry Hindle of Lahaina, Hawaii, Deborah Dory of San Francisco, Calif., and Roy Dory of New Orleans, La., a student at Tulane University.

An online guest book may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com