Bobby Lee Hood

Bobby Lee Hood, loving husband, dad, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend was born on December 15, 1935 to Earl and Beatrice (Maples) Hood in Reeds Spring, Missouri. He was the youngest of six. At a young age, along with his parents and siblings Bob moved from Reeds Spring to Exeter California. While Bob attended elementary school, he was known for his advanced ability to shoot marbles. He would win the most marbles in the games including from the older kids. His marble collection was immense. During 7th and 8th grade, Bob moved with his family to Cowiche, WA where he attended middle school and was active with baseball. The family moved back to Exeter when he started high school. He was a member the Exeter High School Baseball Team and was privileged to be a part of the All-State Champions team. This was indeed one of the best moments of his life. He and others on that team remained friends with their coach, who is known to many as Tinsie. Tinsie and his wife Mary Ellen moved from CA to Yakima WA in recent years and Bob was able to spend time visiting with him. He always stayed in touch with school friends, especially his closest friend Danny Goates. On a trip to CA in September 2014, dad was able to see Danny and his wife. During this visit, Danny opened the front door and dad stated, "I know you!" They visited, as much as they could, and drank a beer and walked around the back yard. It was a great time.

After high school Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force. He spent 9.5 years in the Air Force, traveling to various states in the U.S. and various countries. While stationed in Moses Lake, WA, Bob would spend weekends with his sister, Shirley, and her family in Yakima, WA. It was during one of these visits that his Shirley introduced him to a cute red-haired cashier at the Cowiche grocery store. That was the beginning of a life-long love affair.

Bob and Donna were married December 21, 1961. After Bob was honorably discharged, they moved to California briefly, but returned to the Yakima Valley. Two daughters came into their lives, first Marla and then Robyn. During the time Bob was stationed in Germany and Tripoli, he would write Donna romantic letters professing his love for her. Those letters still exist and were a great source of entertainment for Marla and Robyn when they were younger. Bob worked in Yakima as a food warehouse man for Continental Grocers which became National Grocers, then PDQ, and finally Noel Foods from where he retired.

Being too young to retire, Bob started his second career working for the Highland School District, in various positions including, janitor, lawn maintenance and bus driver. Bob loved driving bus; he enjoyed his time with all the kids and they loved him. There were many kids that would give him school pictures or handmade cards and he cherished every one of them.

Bob loved sports and was an avid supporter of Highland teams as well as others in the valley. Whether he knew the kids or not, he enjoyed attending all activities. Most recently he enjoyed attending Ike basketball and football played by his great-nephews Damian & Noah. While his girls were in school, he was active coaching them or watching them as they played sports. His best bus trips were those to take the kids to out of town games...he got to drive his bus AND watch sports. He had the best of both worlds. Bob enjoyed fishing trout and salmon walking the river bank. He shared this love of fishing with his daughter Robyn.

His biggest goal in life was to be able to buy his own property. He achieved this goal when he purchased an apple orchard in Cowiche. The family home was built in that orchard and he remained there until his passing. Bob spent countless hours, when not at work for the grocery business, pruning, thinning, and picking his apples. During the early years, he irrigated by ditch, walking the ditches and filling in gopher holes so the water didn't detour down the holes. The orchard was going to be dad's retirement. However, over the years he decided he did not want to work that hard and cut it down instead. He did keep some Golden Delicious and Red Delicious trees as well as the big, old Standard Delicious in the middle of the driveway. After removing some of the lower orchard, Bob bought Robyn a horse, Lucy. Robyn became active in 4-H and with the help of Bert Dixon and his horse trailer was able to attend events. Before Lucy, there was a black Welsh pony for the girls. She did not like men so Bob would have to be careful or he would get nipped when trying to help Robyn or Marla onto her.

In addition to spending the hours working his property, he loved to work on cars, build things, including the shed in the backyard, and Bob and Donna hosted many events at the home. With a pool table in the family room and a bar along with a beer keg cooler and tap, there were many parties where dad showed off his ability to shoot pool. He was an ace pool player and played both at home and on the way home from work at the Tavern with buddies. Pool must have been his grown up version of marbles. Bob and Donna enjoyed spending time with all their friends. Ted and Judi Brulotte were life-long friends, Judy and Donna growing up together. Bob and Ted had the same birthday which was often celebrated together including a memorable dinner train trip. Friends Ron and Jan Foust lived across the street from Bob and Donna in the early years. For over 40 years they enjoyed getting together whether at their own homes or out on the town. Even when Ron and Jan moved to Lynnwood for several years, trips to the West side were many. A New Year’s Eve impromptu stay at Whistlin’ Jack Lodge where the couples had to share a room was memorable to say the least.

After several years of bus driving, Bob started to have trouble thinking. He had to retire from the job he loved the most. As his thinking ability became worse, and the stiffness of Parkinson's made it hard for him to move, he remained active as long as he could. In 2010, he and Donna went with Robyn and her family for the baptism of Alex and Emmie in the Armenian Apostolic Church in Yerevan, Armenia. At the reception following, Bob enjoyed meeting all of Gary's (son-in-law) family and friends and even though there was a language barrier, they spoke the same language when it came time to drink Vodka. During this trip, before heading back to the U.S., a stop for a few days was made in Paris France at which time Marla joined for 3 days. Sightseeing and good food/drink made a memorable family trip. Bob and Donna even got a picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Since 2010, Bob gradually became worse. His diagnosis of Parkinson's and Dementia with Lewy Bodies came early but there was always a hope the diagnosis was wrong or some medication would work. The good days were fleeting. It was great when there was a good day, when he could think and be present. As Bob became worse and needed more care, his daughter Marla took a year off work to be his primary caregiver. Robyn would come to town to help, bringing her youngest, Sophie with her. Bob enjoyed watching Sophie play and they chatted, in their own language. In August of 2014, Donna, Marla and Robyn, along with his sister Shirley, were able to get him to Exeter CA for his brother Ralph's 90th birthday. In January 2015 they were able to take him to Disneyland with Alex, Emmie and Sophie. Many pictures were taken to memorialize this trip. In April 2015, along with Donna, Robyn, Marla and his sister Shirley, Bob made the trip to Harlingen Texas to see his sister Pat. During the visit to Texas the Alamo was toured and some time was spent at South Padre Island on the beach. It was a wonderful trip and Bob's good days were many. There was also a visit to Smithville Texas where his nephew Jason and family live. As 2015 passed, his health continued to decline. With the help of special caregiver Angelina Larimer and dear friends Joe and Cathy Parsley and their son Dan Parsley, Marla was able to return to work in September 2015. In December 2015, Hospice joined in with his caregiving. Because of dear friends and great caregivers, Donna was able to keep Bob at home until he passed. Donna spent many sleepless nights and long days being the loving and caring woman Bob had married 54 years before.

One thing that has been commented on over and over again since his passing was his great smile. In all the pictures of Bob, when he is smiling it is the same smile, from childhood on.

On Wednesday, January 20, 2016, Bob passed at home peacefully surrounded by family and friends. He had turned 80 on December 15, 2015 and celebrated 54 years of marriage on December 21, 2015. Bob was very much loved and will be missed by all.