Robert Arthur Gariepy

Although Bob and Yvonne lived just a couple of streets apart—close enough that she could see his house from her bedroom window—they didn't meet until age 25. Despite knowing the same people and frequenting the same places, their paths had never crossed. When a mutual friend finally introduced them, they became instant best friends and married a year later. Throughout their 59-year marriage, they faced life's challenges together while maintaining their deep friendship until the end.

In 1969, Bob earned his degree from Northeastern University. For eight years, he worked full-time during the day while taking classes at night in Boston nearly 50 miles away by bus. After graduating, Bob dreamed of moving out West, and his wife Yvonne supported the idea. The couple sold their home in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and began an exciting journey with their four young children, who were all under five years old. They bought a travel trailer and spent the summer driving across America, visiting national parks while looking for the perfect place to call home.

Based on a job lead from a stranger in Colorado, Bob and his family traveled to Huntington Beach, California, where he secured an engineering position at Raytheon. After a few years there, they made their permanent home in Westminster in 1974.

In October of 1971, Bob gave his life to Jesus after a coworker answered his many questions about salvation. From then on, Bob became a devout follower of Christ, and a month later, he led all his children to know Jesus as well.

His family, friends, and neighbors remember him as an honorable and kind man with a generous, warm smile for everyone he met. He was inquisitive and loved exploring the intricate details of his greatest interests: the Bible, home theater systems, and what Heaven would be like—especially after Yvonne preceded him there in December, 2019.

Bob is survived by his four children, Dianne, Donna, Rob, and Mark