Celebrating Russell Lee Bolton

January 17, 1933, Chicago, IL - December 26, 2023, Metuchen, NJ

Russ had a gift for engaging strangers in conversation and making friends as he hitchhiked around the world with one backpack in 1959-61 after his Navy Service. He never stopped exploring and creating new friends as he circled the planet 7 times in different directions on land and sea during his life.

His legendary persistence overcame undiagnosed dyslexia as he earned his PhD at the U of I, Champaign-Urbana, IL, formulating a unique temperature-stable electronic ceramic capacitor, then  married Laura Lee Bolton (nee Specht, 10/13/1944) on February 23, 1968, in the Palo Alto,CA, Unitarian Church after pursuing her across two continents and an ocean.

Gulton Industries (Metuchen, NJ) hired him to make his dissertation product in August, 1968, so the pair used their last $200 to tent-camp across the USA driving his late father's 1959 De Soto. Thrifty, they made it with $26 to spare.

Wisdom, humor, curiosity and fondness of adventure graced their love. Their children (in backpacks of course) joined their travels and even helped Russ check the car's oil (photo link to come): Kenneth Lee Bolton (7/27/1974), Diane Lee Bolton (8/23,1976) and William Lee Bolton (12/11/1979).

In 1988, Russ became Vice President of R&D for Sensor Scientific, serving as a valued member of their thermistor team's thriving business. He helped them win Northrup's "Outstanding Achievement" award and the US Small Business Administration "Award of Excellence" for their work on the US Air Force B2 aircraft (also called the "flying wing"). Russ "retired" in November, 2011, to enjoy his family and continue exploring his beloved planet.

Russ is survived by Laura, Ken, William and his husband, Steven Williford, Diane and her husband, Jeff Boswell and their son Miles Boswell, who continue to love and celebrate this amazing man who filled our lives with love and adventure. He did daily exercises and Sudoku through December 25th, then next day breathed his last breath, peacefully as he chose, in the home he redesigned, surrounded by his loving family.

No memorial service is planned.  Arrangements were entrusted to the Flynn and Son /Koyen Funeral Home 319 Amboy Ave Metuchen NJ 08840

Please plant a tree or donate to St Jude Children's Research Hospital or honor him as you choose.