Robert Eugene Rohr

Robert Eugene Rohr was born in Mt. Vernon, Washington, to Lyle and Ada (Summers) Rohr on September 6th, 1933. His youth was spent in Skagit County, enjoying farm life and being outdoors, climbing Tjersland's Hill, swimming in the local sloughs, biking on the country roads, and, especially, going with his older brother, Dick, and cousin, John Summers, to pick up bottles at the Grange Hall yard after a Saturday night dance. These they would redeem for cash on the bottle deposit.

In 1948, Ada remarried Mike LeMay, and the family moved to Olympia. Bob attended Olympia High School, years that he very much enjoyed and which meant a lot to him. He graduated in 1952 and went on to the University of Washington. He graduated in 1956 with a degree in business - Foreign Trade - and a commission in the U. S. Army. Originally a Field Artillery, then an Air Defense Artillery officer, he was eventually assigned to the Military Intelligence Branch. His first assignment in that branch was to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, where he met his wife of 50 years, Paula.

Bob was always keen on travel, and he was very happy when the two of them were assigned to the European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. This gave him the opportunity to see much of Europe during the four years they were there. Bob's final assignment was with the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon. His decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze star. He retired in 1977 and they relocated for Paula's job to El Paso, Texas.

After moving back to Olympia in 1979, Bob first built their house, doing much of the work himself. That done, he established Gravelly Beach Shellfish, Inc. and began raising clams and oysters. After fifteen years, Bob became fully retired and he and Paula were able to focus on Bob's love of travel.

Bob wasn't much interested in going to Paris or sitting on the beach in Hawaii; he preferred adventurous destinations, such as Siberia, Antarctica, the Svalbards, even Timbuktu, to name only a few.

Bob died at home on Monday, the 6th of November. He is survived by his wife, Paula, nieces Suzan (Rohr) Vorzimer, Heather (Doran) Barbieri, Robbi (Doran) Anderson, Tessa (Doran) Effand, Barbara Mitchell and nephew William Mitchell, as well as a brother in law, Robert Doran. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard, his stepsister, Michelle (LeMay) Doran, and stepbrother, Robert Paige.

Arrangements under the direction of Mills & Mills Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Tumwater, WA.