Robert "Bob" Gene Vail

Bob is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Cleone, as well as his brother Carl and his sister Joy. Bob and Cleone’s 68 years together began in Emporia, Kansas. They were pen pals while Bob served in the U.S. Navy. Bob’s junior year of high school had been interrupted when he was drafted. He served as a radio teletype operator in Hawaii and Guam during WWII. After he completed his tour of duty, Bob returned to Emporia to finish high school, and in 1946 he eloped with his pen pal, Cleone.

Following the birth of their first son, Ron, they moved to Laramie, Wyoming where Bob attended the University of Wyoming. During the seventeen years they lived there, Bob shared his deep love and appreciation of nature as they explored the majestic Snowy Range. They spent countless hours as a family fishing and camping under the stars. Whether it was teaching the boys how to bait a hook, land a rainbow trout, or the importance of kissing his dear wife good night, Bob was always his sons’ life coach. They could hear their father, “You need to work before you play”, as they combed the ditches looking for pop bottles. The change earned from the deposits would earn them entry into Saturday night’s stock car races. Bob always made a point to share the beauty of life’s little moments like shooting stars and watching a beaver by a beaver dam. Bob’s love and support was not limited to his immediate family. There are countless friends and family members that tell stories of Bob’s love and generosity during challenging times. He often said upon greeting them, “What do you need?”

Two sons later (Rory and John), the family of five relocated to Fort Collins in 1965. Bob became the owner-operator of Ace Cab Company, and later he took a position with Colorado State University as their property accounting clerk where he remained for 18 years. During those years, that family of five continued to grow adding 3 daughters-in-law (Bonnie, Debbie, and Jan) and later, 7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Whether it was board games, Yahtzee, or the living room visits, stories were told and retold countless times with love, joy, and humor. Bob was so proud of his family. He always said his family was his greatest accomplishment in life.

Bob and Cleone began their retirement in 1990. They spent the first 5 years traveling across the United States. For a time, Bob wrote a regular column for Fort Collins’ newspaper, the Coloradoan. He interviewed local seniors and told their stories. Bob and Cleone’s life-long commitment to each other was evident throughout their lives for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. When Cleone voiced to Bob her fear of dying, he said, “Don’t be. I’ll be waiting at the gate for you.”

Burial and Memorial Services were held on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Resthaven Funeral Home and Memory Gardens. The family would prefer encourages charitable donations on Bob’s behalf to the Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/).