(From the On-line Molalla Pioneer, Molalla, OR, published December 23, 2009)

He lived a gentle life and died a gentle death. Bob quietly slipped away from us, his wife at his side, this past Wednesday, December 16th, the same date his own dad died. Bob was born 88 years ago in Valley Ford, Washington. Oldest son of Bud & Alice Robbins, he grew up on the family farm in Molalla, where his people settled in the 1850s after arriving in covered wagons via the Oregon Trail. He loved the outdoors. He loved working with his hands.

He could fix or build most anything. Bob served as a Field Engineer in the Army Air Force during World War II, keeping planes operational at a flight training facility in Lancaster, CA. Young, handsome and full of himself, he fell in love with and married his wife of 64 years, Irma.

He subsequently earned a degree in Industrial Engineering from Oregon State. He then traveled the country building and running food processing facilities for General Foods and Kraft Foods, before retiring in Roseville, CA.

Bob is survived by his wife of Rocklin, CA, his sister Ella Mae Wampler of Molalla, his son Dale Robbins of Lincoln, CA, his daughter Karen Goot of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His quiet strength, kindness, humility, and perseverance are the gifts he left for all who knew and loved him. He’ll be missed.

There will be a Memorial Gathering where his ashes will be interred at the Adams Cemetery (32840 S. Adams Cemetery Road, Molalla) at 3pm, Tuesday, December 29th, followed by a get-together to celebrate Bob’s life at the Farmstead Restaurant & Pub at Arrowhead Golf Club, 28301 S. Hwy 213, Molalla.

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(From the Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, CA, published Dec. 22, 2009)

Robert O. ROBBINS lived a gentle life and died a gentle death. Bob quietly slipped away from us, his wife Irma at his side, this past Wednesday, December 16, 2009, the same date his own dad died.

Bob was born 88 years ago in Valley Ford, Washington. He grew up on a farm in Molalla, Oregon, where his ancestors settled after arriving in covered wagons via the Oregon Trail. He loved the outdoors. He loved working with his hands. He could fix or build most anything.

Bob served as a Field Engineer in the Army Air Force during World War II, keeping planes operational at a flight training facility in Lancaster, CA. Young, handsome and full of himself, he fell in love with and married his wife of 64 years, Irma. He subsequently earned a degree in Industrial Engineering from Oregon State University. He then traveled the country building and running food processing facilities for General Foods and Kraft Foods, before retiring in Roseville.

Bob is survived by his wife; his sister Ella Mae Wampler of Molalla, OR; his son Dale Robbins of Lincoln; his daughter Karen Goot of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

His quiet strength, kindness, humility, and perseverance are the gifts he left for all who knew and loved him. He'll be missed.

Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Gathering on Tuesday, December 22, at 4:00pm in the Clubhouse of Casa de Santa Fe, 3201 Santa Fe Way, Rocklin, CA.