My husband, Ted Jones grew up in a citrus grove in Etiwanda Califfornia with Bob , his young cousin on the next ranch.   From stories Ive heard from Ted everyday there was an advenere hture with older siblings and a dozen cousins nearby. 

Ted and I loved visiting Bob and Carly on the big Island where we  were met with plans for a long hike and a delicious bowl of homemade soup.

Met Bob in 1964 at he and Carly's Sunset Beach home while accompanying Greg Noll & Richard Graham, Surfing Mag. Editor, on a visit. Bob was in his vintage 1 car plantation garage restoring his Model A which he had been working on for sometime. As Bob and Carly's house was beach-front Greg and Richard teased Bob "that the car was rusting faster than he was restoring", Bob begrudgingly laughed.
 
From that initial meeting I enjoyed Bob's friendship and frequently visited him at the Sunset Fire Station where he was posted for Sunday Volleyball and to talk-story or, in Dick Brewer's Surfboards Hawaii shaping room just adjacent the now demolished Haleiwa Theater. An ancient plantation store revived by Brewer and converted into probably the North Shore's first surfboard factory. Bob was usually covered in foam dust from his shaping work and was always ready to put his planner down and walk me through his progress, a real learning process for me.  Until the late 60's Bob and fireman Coleman were the designated ocean-rescue team, as they were surfers, for the entire North Shore as Honolulu City & County Lifeguards had yet to be posted outside of Waikiki and Ala Moana beaches. I remember Bob having to go out in some "frightening"  conditions to rescue careless, un-expecting victims of huge surf. 
And he did eventually complete his Model A restoration and he and Carly brought it to Hawaii island in the early 1970's when he transferred to Honokaa Fire Station where he retired form the department years later.

Kooksie worked closely with Carly while at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel within the retail shops and tennis facility where they began a long friendship.
  
Attaching 2 photos of my 9'2" Shepherd - Daniels "Surf Boats" Solid Balsa Hot Dog shape board built in 1959 for iconic Waikiki Beach Boy, Rabbit Kekai. Bob explained when I acquired this board in 2004 and surprised him with it at his wood shop, "that this board had been shaped from a single piece of balsa wood they found in the center of the palleted load of balsa coming from the mainland". "At that time foam boards were only in their infancy as the technology was still on the development curve and the only balsa available came from retired military life-boats/rafts that had been decommissioned and sold on the open lumber market and they had received 2 separate pallet shipments and this board was shaped from the only solid piece received". "The ½" Redwood Stringers were added for strength and are the only lamination within the blank, a rarity at the time and most certainly, today".

Bob went on to explain that "he and his partner rented a space within the defunct Honolulu Iron Works building, since demolished and now home to the Courts and Waterfront Row. Their landlord was a kupuna Filipino man who when told of the intended use couldn't understand the concept of a surfboard which Bob had to work hard to get across. Once the kupuna grasped the concept he excitedly responded, "Surf Boats" and that gave the partners the name of their new brand". 

And then there was Motorcycle riding with Bob and I'm going to spare you on those adventures for now . . .

Many great memories of Bob and Carly for us and although saddened with their passing we are so thankful there was no suffering or prolonged discomfort for either. They are missed . . . . . .


Bob and Carly were our neighbors in Waimea.  There are very specific memories to share.  I will start with Bob.  We are normally in Oregon and travel to the Big Island every 3 or 4 months or so.  One of the first times I met Bob he wanted to know if I played chess.  He was asking a person who barely can remember how to play checkers!  Letting him know that I did know how to play he just said OK.  Maybe I should have added that I could learn but he had heard enough.  We have a small sports car that we keep there and I end up strapping my paddle board to the roof of the car.  The board is almost as big as the car itself.  Every time Bob would see me he would remind me that I needed a truck.  This every time.  I would say "I remember from when you told me that last time" and he would reply "Well you do!"  
Another Bob incident was when I took my street bicycle over to ride to the store and around town.  He told me more than once that I needed to wear a helmet.  I always promised to buy one but just never did.  That is until he grabbed me, punched me in the arm -- Hard! and said how much longer until I got my helmet.  I bought it that day.   He loved his wife and was really a terrific neighbor.  Even when he inflicted pain and a bruise on my arm I knew he was doing it because he cared.  We will very much miss seeing him on our visits there.

OBITUARIO

Robert Glen Shepherd

6 marzo, 1934 – 28 septiembre, 2024

Ballard Family Mortuary-Kahului

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