Robert W. Muir

Dr. Robert W. Muir passed away quietly on September 23, 2016 surrounded by his family. He bravely waited until all of his children and family were with him before joining his father and mother who proceeded him into heaven.

Dr. Muir was born January 24, 1935 in Boston, MA, the son of Warren and Mary Agnes Muir. He attended Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern PA. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Pennsylvania in 1956 and graduated magna cum lauda from University of Pennsylvania medical school in 1960.

On a blind date in 1956, he met the love of his life, Mary Louise O'Sullivan who was attending the nearby Immaculate College. Dr. Muir and M.L. were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fall River Massachusetts on July 25, 1959.

While at University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Muir participated in Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and was commissioned a second lieutenant on September 1, 1959. After graduation from medical school in 1960, he attended his internship at Fort Benning, Georgia and his general surgery residency at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. He served as a surgeon at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. From 1967 until 1970, Major (Dr.) Muir spent a tour in Vietnam serving at front line surgical facilities while rotating back to the 249th General Hospital in Camp Drake, Japan. Following his tours overseas, the Army moved him to the Washington, D.C. area where he served as the Chief of General Surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He quickly rose through the ranks to Colonel, serving as the Chief of Surgery before he retired in 1978.

Dr. Muir and family moved to the Reading, Pennsylvania area where he served as Chief of General Surgery at Reading Hospital until his retirement from practice.

A lifelong student, he graduated with an MBA from St. Joseph's University in 1995 and helped to establish the executive MBA program at Alvernia College for health care professionals.

He loved being with his family, vacations at the beach, the ocean, lighthouses, and fishing. He is survived by his bride of 57 years, M.L. Muir and seven children - Tom Muir and spouse Lucy (Ceballos) Muir, Terri Muir and spouse John Fromwiller, Jim Muir and spouse Lynne (Wentzel) Muir, John Muir and spouse Jennifer (Senton) Muir, Geraldine Muir, Christine Parker and spouse Alex Parker, and Tim Muir and spouse Lee (Gallagher) Muir. Dr. Muir and M.L also have eleven grandchildren - Lauren Muir, Paul Gapinski, Diane Neubauer and her husband, Captain Andrew Neubauer, Mark Gapinski, Alexis, Alicia, and Anya Muir; Ben and Natalie Muir; and Anna and Ryan Parker. He is also survived by his brother, W. Edward Muir.

A viewing will be held at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA 19611 from 5 pm until 8 pm on Monday, September 26, 2016. A celebration of Dr. Muir's life and mass will be held at St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church, 2810 St Albans Drive, Sinking Spring PA 19608 with viewing beginning at 10 am and mass beginning at 11 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2016. The family will hold a private burial ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Dr. Robert W. Muir to establish a memorial scholarship to support nursing students. Donations should be made payable to the Reading Health System, mail to Kozloff Stoudt Law Office at 2640 Westview Drive, Wyomissing PA 19610.