Robert ‘Bob’ Lyle Huey, a long time Sanger resident and farmer passed away suddenly March 1, 2021, doing what he loved. While tending his trees and discing the orchard rows, he had a tragic tractor accident.
Robert was born at home on December 30, 1938 in Mendota, CA, to Charles K. and Gertrude Emma Henrietta Chalburg Huey and was the youngest of 7 children.
He was a graduate of Tranquility High in 1956. After high school and some college he joined the US Air Force serving in Texas and England as a clerk typist. After the service he worked 26 years for Market Wholesale Food Distributors operating an IBM mainframe computer system. Robert met Nancy Knight at a New Year's Eve square dance and they married in 1980. When Market Wholesale closed their Fresno office he took an early retirement. After operating a janitorial service and a food delivery business for a short time, he decided to try his hand at almond farming. He was always good at growing things and the ranch became his passion for the next 35 years. Robert loved being able to roast his homegrown almonds and share them with all his friends.
He was a huge Dodger fan, but also loved CSUF football, basketball and especially baseball. He worked helping prepare the Dugout Club's brunches for almost forty years until the recent Covid pandemic. For eighteen years he dedicated his Mondays to helping the Monday morning veterans group "Stories of Service" in Clovis. Here veterans are able to share their personal military stories and thereby preserve that important history. He was so proud to have traveled to our nation’s capital with the ‘Honor Flight’ while accompanied by his son who served as guardian.
Robert was very patriotic and active in many military and community organizations; Sanger AMVETS Post 98 and their Honor Guard, American Legion Post 147, Forty & Eight, Air Force Assoc., Fresno Chapter of the American X POW's, Assoc of the US Army, Sons In Retirement #179, Sanger Eagles, and several farm groups.
He was an extremely loyal, very kind, polite and quiet gentleman. Active on the ranch and in all the organizations he belonged to, many friends remarked how generous and always willing to help he was; his actions spoke louder than words. He lived the Golden Rule! His soft smile, thoughtful, patient and positive attitude were ever-present.
Nancy, his loving wife of forty years, daughter Darlene and Michael Prichard, son Brian Huey, four grandchildren, four great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews, survive Robert.
He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings Edith Herrin, Margaret Lambert, Ruby Smalley, C. Keith Huey, Kenneth Huey and Fae Bandoni Machado.
A Graveside Memorial Service for Robert will be held Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. at Clovis Cemetery, 305 North Villa Avenue, Clovis, California 93612.
Following the Graveside Memorial Service there will be a Celebration of A Life Well Lived at 10:00 a.m., at Clovis Veteran's Memorial Hall in the Independence Hall, 808 Fourth Street, Clovis, CA 93612.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Robert's memory may be made to Forty & Eight, P.O Box 5020, Fresno, California 93755; AMVETS Post 98, P.O Box 333, Sanger, California 93657; Sanger Eagles, P.O Box 91, Sanger, California 93657; and American Legion Post 147, 508 4th Street, Clovis, California 93612.
