Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Painter and daughter, Peggy
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Painter and their daughter, Peggy, of Dhahran were killed by asphyxiation, along with Mrs. Painter's mother, in the latter's West Palm Beach, Florida, home on March 24. The Painters were in the United States on repatriation vacation.
Mr. Painter had been with Aramco's Exploration Department since March 1952. Prior to joining the company he had worked as a district geologist and consulting geologist in the Rocky Mountain area.
A graduate of the University of Illinois, where he received his BS degree in geology in 1941, Mr. Painter saw active service in the European Theater during World War II with the Field Artillery. He retired with the rank of Major in the U.S. Army Reserve.
His Aramco assignments included acting senior geologist, Subsurface; senior geologist, Structure Drilling; and supervisor, Development Engineering, Abqaiq District. In his most recent position he was in charge of all hydrological studies in the Eastern Province.
Mrs. Painter, the former Shirley Armor, was employed by Aramco in the New York Office in April 1948, and came to Dhahran in October 1951. She worked in the Exploration Department prior to her marriage. The Painters were married in June 1960. Their daughter Margaret Armor Painter, age six attended school in Dhahran.
The Painter family was found, untouched by flames, in the two story frame home of Mrs. Cleverly Armor, Mrs. Painter's mother, after a fire in her home had been extinguished.
Mr. Painter is survived by two sons, Robert, 25, and Thomas, 19. They may be contacted at 204 East 30th Street, Austin, Texas.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Arab Relief. Memorial services will be announced. [Photographs: Mr. and Mrs. Painter, and Peggy with her dog]