This memorial website was created in the memory our beloved Bob. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:
Banner Alzheimer Foundation
2025 N. Third Street, Suite 250, Phoenix, AZ 85004
or
Hospice of the Valley Arbor Home
6063 E. Arbor Ave., Mesa, AZ 85206
Tributes
Leave a tributeLove always, Ag
Ag
Love you and miss you just as much after almost ten years, dear one.
Your loving wife.
"It's not my world anymore." How true that is now! He really wouldn't recognize his world. Between the Coronavirus, the nasty election campaigning and the rioting and protesting, it's definitely not his world. But time marches on and we have to keep marching the best we can. Fond memories of our lives with him can keep us smiling and glad he was part of our world and memories forever. Love you, dear one.
Would love to be singing to you and watching you blow out 90 candles today, but it just wasn't meant to be. Instead I'm wishing you Happy Birthday from me and your wonderful children, Steve, Lars, Larissa, and Jill who find it difficult to express their love and feelings for you in words on your site here. Along with our love and smiles come those from your sons-in-law Mike and Bruce, your daughter-in-law Lisa, your seventeen grandkids and six great grandkids--quite a mob that you've left behind here on earth, fella. We miss you more than you know (but then again, maybe you do). You're in our hearts forever. All our love, Ag
Grandma Larissa was present for her birth and she's a beauty who resembles her beautiful Mom, Rainey. THEN, on December 22, 2017, River Grace Bittner was born to Sienna and David in Mesa, Arizona.
She's another gorgeous baby who resembles her Mom, Sienna. So we have two great granddaughters to join your four great grandsons, Justin, Brady, Jake and Nick Hansen.
Unfortunately, there was sad news in December as well. On Christmas day, 2017, the oldest of your great grandsons, Justin, lost his life in a tragic automobile accident. He was 25 yrs. old and the son of your oldest grandson, Chris. The circle of life continues. And we miss you so very much. Love, Ag
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear, Bob! Happy birthday to you!
CROSSING THE BAR
Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea.
But such a tide as moving seems asleep, too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep turn again home.
Twilight and evening bell, and after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark;
For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place the flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crost the bar.
From the heart of Corky Matthews
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the day my beloved Bob left us.
This is supposed to get easier, I'm told, but it isn't. Life goes on in our wonderful family, but not the same without him. Love you and miss you, dear one. Ag
I happened upon this notice of Bob's death by accident and am saddened to learn of his passing. I knew him during my time at Motorola from1985 thru 1994. Both you and he were really great to me and I've always appreciated it. Best wishes to you and the family. You are all Bob's living legacy.
Happy Birthday, Bob! Your 87th! Frank Sinatra is still singing "My Way" each time we open your website. It is so very appropriate since you truly did things your way and I loved you for that..no pretense, always the real you. And I miss that "you" so very much. I am so grateful for all the years we had together.
Happy Birthday, Bob!
Leave a Tribute
Love always, Ag
Please be patient.
As I remember Bob today, I think of what he was not: arrogant, boastful, overbearing. He manged to get the best out of those who worked for him without demeaning them or resorting to threats. Just a great guy...
Oops!
My dad and I had a funny way of saying hello when I was a young girl. He would stand in the kitchen, and when I saw him I would run toward him, head down, at full speed! He always wanted to prove that he had abs of steel and would hold them tight as I barreled toward him. The top of my head would make contact with that belly and I would bounce right off! This went on for quite some time until he was sidelined with an umbilical hernia, apparantly caused by some blunt trauma to the abdomen.........oops!
Bob Being Bob
The past several months, Bob really had a hard time communicating. You could tell he had something he wanted to say but his brain and his speech difficulties prohibited him from doing so. While in the hospital, he actually seemed to improve after being on an IV and getting hydrated so the family enjoyed seeing him being more like his old self. This was evident when the speech therapist came to do a swallow test and asked him to say "one, two, three". He just looked at her so Aggie said "Bob, say one, two, three" to which Bob responded very clearly - "What the hell for?". Another time a nurse was pulling the tape off his arm from the IV and when she ripped it off Bob said in a loud voice as clear as day, "You son of a bi#$@"! We were so happy to be able to hear and understand him, even if it was him cursing at the hospital staff!