Robert Burke Mawby

Robert Burke Mawby, 81, of Little Silver passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. He is survived by his siblings: Sue Heritage (nee Mawby) and Glen Mawby; his children: James Mawby, Karen Alexander and Daniel Mawby; and seven grandchildren: Derek Strasser, Ryan Mawby, Savannah Mawby, Joanna Alexander, Bethany Alexander, Anthony Venetucci, and Nicholas Venetucci. Burke was preceded in death by his father Robert U. Mawby, mother Sarah Mawby (nee Walz), his wife Carol Mawby (nee Griffiths) of 54 years. Burke was born to Kathyrn Mawby (nee Fulwider) and “Bob” on August 9,1943 in Texas while his parents were stationed at the Joint Base Fort Sam Houston. “Kate” passed away soon after due to complications from birth. Sarah and Bob married in August 1946, and she embraced Burke as her own right away. “Sally” knew how to make him open up…cookies that were fresh out of the oven and milk. As a military brat, he grew up traveling with his family, spending time in Seoul, Korea (1948) and Cochabamba, Bolivia (1953) until returning to New Jersey. In Bolivia, he met missionaries from the United States. This began his relationship with the “Lord Jesus” which changed his life forever. The family lived in Pennsauken for a while. Then, he spent the rest of his life in Monmouth County; Little Silver and Matawan/Aberdeen were the towns he called home for most of his life. Growing up in Little Silver he attended Markham Place Elementary School, then Red Bank Regional High School Class of 1961. He met Carol at Markham Place School. From graduation, he started working at Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ in a Mechanical/Drafting and Design position. Carol and Burke would carpool to work, that is when the sparks began in their friendship. During their schooling, they had no interest in one another. Burke viewed Carol as a band geek, she thought he was a dweeb (we don’t know exactly what that means). In 1964, he was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point. His recommendation came from the Commanding General of Fort Monmouth as Burke would caddy for him. Due to a shoulder injury from a vehicle accident, he was discharged from West Point in 1965. He has always credited this accident as divine intervention. Most of his West Point class went to serve in Vietnam, and did not return. He continued to serve in the US Army Reserves while attending Drexel for Mechanical Engineering. Right after graduation, he and Carol married in June 1968. Burke started a career right away at Ford Motor Company in Metuchen as a Maintenance Engineer. "You know what’s interesting”, for 5 years he oversaw productions, and helped the plant improve production immensely. However, when asked to transfer to Detroit he declined and then resigned citing a strong desire to keep his wife, Carol near family. Since then, he and Carol worked together managing 100% Klean for the remainder of their lives. Burke still cleaned for the Mark family in Colonia, NJ until his death. He loved the Lord Jesus, Carol, children and grandchildren, “adopted” children, family and friends, storytelling, hearing others’ stories, tennis, archery, kite flying, sailing, small aircrafts, finding the apparent wind, auto mechanics, CB Radios, computers and technology, all things Boy Scouting, urban cowboy clothing, BIG coffee mugs, Mexican Food, liqueurs, singing (sang at Carnegie Hall with Arcadian Chorale), dancing, gardening and wood chips, bartering, speaking Spanish, an avid collector of too many things, genealogy, and history of all sorts. As a mechanical engineer, he figured whatever it was - he could fix it. It has been said that he was, “always thinking, planning, analyzing and moving forward.” His sister reminisced, “Regardless of what adversity he was facing, Burke always seemed to have the energy and wherewithal to come up with a plan, proceed with enthusiasm, bounce back, keep going and have a story to go with his efforts.” Organizations and Associations: Gideons International, UMC Matawan Choir, Arcadian Chorale, Cluster Choir, Jersey Coast Sport Flyers (Model Airplane Club), Troop #73 Scout Master, Ameteur Computer Users of New Jersey, Amway and Shaklee distributor, Keyport Yacht Club, supporter of Wounded Warriors. Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject) in his memory would be appreciated.

Robert Burke Mawby

August 9, 1943 - February 12, 2025