Bob was born in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, but spent his childhood in Grand Junction and Silt. He attended Tope Elementary, Grand Junction Junior High, and Grand Junction High School, class of 1963. After graduation Bob continued his education at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. In 1964, Bob enlisted in the United States Navy. He served from 1964 to 1969, on the USS Sperry, the USS Charr, and ended his enlistment on the USS Valley Forge submarine as an electrician mate, 5th class, where he was stationed off the coast of Vietnam. Upon returning to the states, Bob attended Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management. He then moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado.
On September 4, 1971, Bob wed Jean (Low) McCabe in Loveland, Colorado. They lived in Boulder where Bob worked for Conoco Oil and Sherwin-Williams Paint Company. With a desire to move closer to his hometown, Bob seized the opportunity to move to Aspen, where he was the District Manager for the Rio Grande Motorway. When he gained the Glenwood Springs office, he and Jean moved to Carbondale. The couple found their way back to Grand Junction in 1976 when Bob went to work for the Denver &Rio Grande Western Railroad. During his tenure at the Rio Grande Railroad, Bob was a Trainman, Conductor, and YardMaster. He retired from the Union Pacific in August, 1998.
Bob and Jean have two daughters, Angela Marie, and Danielle Nicole. Being an only child, he had his hands full living in a house with three females. In 2006, Bob excitedly welcomed to the family his one and only grandchild, Braden Michael.
Bob loved the outdoors. His favorite activities were camping, fly fishing, hunting, and golfing. While living in Aspen he would spend many evenings after work fly fishing the Roaring Fork River with his beloved Norwegian Elkhound, Lady. Bob and his family spent many summers camping and fishing around Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and the Dakotas. Once Bob retired, he and Jean set off traveling. He had always wanted to travel to Alaska. It was this last excursion in which he was able to fulfill his dream; a two week cruise through the inside and outside passages of Alaska, where he was able to go deep sea fishing.
Bob is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jean; daughters, Angela Slaven, and Danielle (Phil) Hindson; and grandson, Braden Michael. He leaves behind aunts; cousins; and a sister-in-law and her family. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Hurst; father, Dean Slaven; step-mother, Billie Slaven; step-father, Robert Hurst; and his in-laws, George and Mildred Low.
Military services are planned for Friday, March 20th at 1:00 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2830 Riverside Parkway, Grand Junction, Colorado. Friends and family are invited to leave their condolences at www.martinmortuary.com.
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