November 15, 1928 – December 4, 2018
Both Bob & wife, Cynthia, grew up in Kansas City, Mo. They met on a blind date in the rumble seat of a 1934 Plymouth. She would become his wife of 62 years (she passed in 2013). Bob graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in mechanical Engineering. They married in 1951, right before Bob entered the Army’s Officer Candidate School.
After the Korean War, Bob & Cynthia settled in San Diego where they raised their three children; Diana, Robert & Valerie (now married, their spouses are Gary, Cathi & Pål). Their second-born, Dale, died at the age of seven of leukemia.
Bob worked 33 years for Convair/General Dynamics as a hydraulics engineer, designing systems for both the Tomahawk missile and the Stealth bomber.
In the mid 50s, Bob and Cynthia embraced the “California Lifestyle.” This was the beginning of their love of the ocean. They began skin diving recreationally among the pioneers of the sport. This expanded to scuba diving which led them to many diving adventures around the world; La Paz, Tahiti, Grand Cayman Islands and Maui (where they would return for nearly a month every year over a span of 40 years). With a group of buddies from work, Bob helped found the Convair Delta Divers club. Both he and Cynthia participated in local and national spearfishing and diving competitions.
Together, Bob & Cynthia enjoyed a life full of activities and travel. Family camping trips began with converting the station wagon for sleeping, then upgraded to tenting. Soon, for many years, a little Shasta trailer hauled the family from San Diego to Washington then as far south as into Baja California. Finally, they fell in love with the versatility of motorhome camping. Over the years, the family travelled to most of the western National Parks. Bob was a hunter and fisherman, which he loved sharing with his kids and grandkids.
During his kids’ high school years, he loved taking them out on his ski boat on Mission Bay, and was, in fact, an accomplished waterskier himself. In the 70s, he joined the San Diego Ski Club and took daughter, Diana, on many ski trips with the club to Mammoth Mountain. When the kids were younger, he was active with son, Rob (“Bobby”) in Indian Guides, and daughter, Valerie, in Indian Princesses.
Bob loved to play the piano & sing. As a bass, he sang with the Sun Harbor Barbershop Chorus, and also in the contemporary choir at Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church. Bob & Cynthia were also active in the church’s Voyager Club, celebrating meals, activities and family camping & outings together. Later, they attended First Presbyterian Church, downtown, for many years. Bob wasn’t much of a game player, except for bridge, which he played with a passion with Cynthia and neighborhood friends.
Another activity that was a focal point over the years, was Square Dancing. They began dancing in the 60’s when the kids were young. In retirement, after the kids left home, Bob & Cynthia committed to dancing at the complicated “Challenge” level, and would drive cross-country in their motorhome, often for 2-3 months at a time, each year, with the goal of meeting up with friends at Square Dance conventions across the nation. They wore out their first motorhome with so many miles!
During their cross-country adventures, they would connect up with out-of-town family too, cousins, nieces and nephews. They loved seeing their grandkids: Erik, Trond & Lars in Colorado, especially at their mountain cabin; taking Robert & Dylan on Lazy Daze campouts; Tyson on fishing trips when he was young; visiting Scott at his brewery in Arizona and Heather in Colorado with their first three great-grands, Elias, Juliana & Emilia.
At Belmont Village, where he spent his final years, the family visited often. The great-grand kids liked to hitch a ride on his walker. Last September, he got to meet his youngest great-granddaughter, Evelyn, who is the first of her generation to carry on the Casebolt name. Bob enjoyed cooking for himself. He was known for his specialty, soft-shell crab. He prided himself on his independence. He had a quick wit and loved to kid around.
Just three weeks before he died, over 60 friends and family came to celebrate Bob’s 90th birthday. They represented both recent friendships and friendships spanning the past 65+ years. It was an amazing highlight. He was overjoyed and content to have shared such a full life.
The family is planning a Celebration of Life after the holidays.
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