A member of the greatest generation and proud WWII Vet, our wonderful beloved father Bob, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2018 at the young age of 93 ½.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents Walt & Lavona Wilson, the love of his life, Joey (Josephine) , his wonderful second wife, Mary (Patricia), his brothers-in-law Albert and George (Pat) Patocka, and the faithful family French poodle, John Pierre.
Bob is survived by his loving daughters Cheryl Lynn and Sandra Jo, sister Sharon (Clearlake, CA), cousin Lanette (Walla Walla, WA) step daughter Patti (Jim) (Tahuya, WA), cheeky smart step-great grantwins, Andee & Alex (WA), nieces Patti (Herb) & family (Vacaville, CA) and Sherry Ann (Chuck) & family ( Ill or Ken?).
Bob was born in Aberdeen, WA, a lumbermill town,He later moved to Reno, San Francisco, Chico, and finally to Sacramento, where he remained in the family home.
In his younger years, he enjoyed playing basketball (High School), bowling, and golf. Bob most loved traveling throughout the U.S in his Winnebago with his family & dog to nearly every state, as well as the width of Canada (west to east coast). Bob & Joey also traveled to Europe; favorite place Switzerland.
Bob completed High School, some College, and on the job training including technical classes in CA State Government. He also was in top 10 in Navy Radio School, Morse code & Signalman training.
He held many jobs including co-owning a gas station, Langendorf Bread Delivery Truck Driver, and State employee. As a State employee he was head of Insurance section, Bureau of Patients Accounts for Dept. of Mental Hygiene, he transferred to CalPERS in late 1961. He retired in the 1980’s from CalPERS as Division Chief of Health Benefits.
Bob served in the US Navy, Armed Guard as a Radioman in WWII. The Armed Guard was activated during wartime to protect merchant ships plying the waters (seas). He served on 4 ships: SS Washington, SS James E. Howard, USAT Mariposa, and SS Pan American. As a Radioman, he was nicknamed “Sparky and Sparks”.
Bob was privileged to attend the Washington, DC WWII Memorial as well as the Vietnam Wall & other Washington monuments provided by the volunteers for “Honor Flight” for WWII Vets; Bob’s name is recorded in the US Navy Memorial log in Wa, DC.
Bob held offices in several organizations:
-CSEA Chapter 2 President
-RPEA State President
- Chaired many committees
- A member of the “Old Guys Lunch Group”
-Member of American Legion
-RPEA Building : Bob & Another RPEA State
President & friend , Ken Wilson purchased the building that houses RPEA HQ’s (5th & T Downtown Sacramento) they were fondly called “ The Wilson Brothers”
Special achievements:
Noteworthy – as calPERS Health Benefits Division Chief, Bob helped develop the beginnings of Calif. Health Plans; mailnly Kaiser Permanente, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and others. He was called to Washington, DC to participate in the crafting of the Medicare Act.
Dad was kind, compassionate, charming, visionary, innovator, funny, storyteller and a gentleman who believed in fairness, equity, justice and above all treating others as he would like to be treated. He believed in doing what hadn’t been done before “To think outside the box”
Bob was the absolute best father; husband, brother, friend and co-worker. He was loved by many and adored by his family & will be greatly missed…Bye for now Dad.
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