Bob Dickinson Obituary

Robert Gerald Dickinson passed away on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colorado. He was born, December 19, 1930, in El Paso, Texas, to Ralph S. Dickinson and Loelleta J. (Lange) Dickinson. His wife and youngest brother were with him at the end. He married Judith A. Randall (Judie) on April 8, 1966, in St. Fe, New Mexico. She survives. There were no children. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two older brothers, Ralph S. Dickinson, Jr. and Waymond Dickinson. In addition, to his wife he is survived by a sister, Katherine l. Krause (Mike), a younger brother, Martin L. Dickinson (Sharon), and various nieces, nephews and cousins.

After graduating from Austin High School, he attended Texas School of Mines and Metallurgy (now UTEP) from which he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering. He was hired by the New Park Mining Company, Park City, Utah, as a sampler. He left New Park and was drafted into the US Army serving at the Artillery School at Fort Bliss. At the end of his military service, he was hired by the Anaconda Company in Darwin, CA where he was Assistant Mine Engineer, Chief Mine Engineer and Assistant Stope Geologist.

He left that position to work for a cousin exploring for minerals in northern Mexico. This ended suddenly when he was bitten by a scorpion and was quickly returned to El Paso for treatment. At this point he decided to continue his studies. He went to the University of Arizona in Tucson and entered their graduate program. During that time, he received University General Graduate Scholarships for 1957 and 1958. As a graduate assistant he was a laboratory instructor. He received his MS in 1960 and completed the coursework for his PhD in 1961. He was hired by the USGS to map 4 quadrangles in the San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado for leasable minerals. He wrote his dissertation based on his work on the Cerro Summit Quadrangle. It was completed and defended in April 1966 (one week after his marriage to Judie).

Bob worked for the USGS for 23 years in various capacities –, Supervisory Geologist, Chief of the Resource Valuation Standards and Publications for the entire USGS Conservation Division, Supervisory Physical Scientist, Chief of Resource Evaluation which is responsible for determining the amount of oil, gas, shale, coal and minerals on leasable federal and Indian lands in Colorado, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri.

He and Judie traveled extensively in the United States, Latin America, Canada, Europe, and Egypt pursuing their interests in geology and Spanish language and heritage. They supplemented their travels with an interest in photography and birding and spent many vacations in the San Juans.

In retirement, he continued his passion for research. He and Judie visited many genealogical libraries and documented their family histories.

He was a member of the Geological Society of America, Colorado Scientific Society, American Institute of Professional Geologists, and Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Engineering.

In place of flowers donations to the Nature Conservancy in his name would be appreciated. Mail your donation or click on the provided link to donate.

The Nature Conservancy

4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 Arlington, Virginia 22203

https://preserve.nature.org/page/80429/donate/1

Committal with military honors will be held Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 12:30pm, Fort Logan National Cemetery.