Robert "Bob" H. Walker

Robert Bob Walker was a fun-loving and spontaneous man who truly lived life to its fullest. Even as death was creeping in, his concern was for those he loved rather than for himself. Bob was a man of great strength whose drive and dedication were the building blocks behind his successful business for over 30 years. He was an outdoor enthusiast who could fix and build anything, and all who knew Bob knew that nothing got in the way of him watching NASCAR races nothing! He could be intimidating upon first glance with his strong arms, big hands, and commanding voice, but underneath his exterior was his kind and giving heart. The year 1943 was a year that was very much defined by our nations involvement in WWII overseas. Back home, rationing was in place on many commonly used goods while families planted victory gardens as a means to support the war effort. It was during this same year that Howard and Katherine (Kubon) Walker welcomed the birth of their son, Robert, on May 5th. Although he was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Bob and his parents moved to Michigan while Bob was still a baby. His parents purchased a restaurant on Peck Street in Muskegon called the Ships Rail. When Bob was about two years old his parents purchased a farm in Fremont and shortly thereafter, his mother died from tuberculosis. Some time later, Bobs father remarried a woman named Leota. In many ways, Bob enjoyed a rather typical childhood on the farm. He was responsible for his fair share of the chores including milking the cows and tending to the horses. Bob had his own horse and cows as well. One day while messing with the bulls, he didnt heed his mothers advice and ended up stuck right in the rear by one of the bulls. There was also the time that he found himself caught by his manhood on top of the silo! Bob attended Fremont schools where he played football, ran track, and loved playing chess. After he finished the tenth grade, Bob enlisted in the Army. He became a military police officer and served from 1960 until he was discharged in 1963. It was also during this time that he met a young woman named Jean. After dating for a time, they married in 1963. Jean also brought her sons, Rick and Ron, into the marriage. Their family of four moved to California in 1964, but remained there for only a short time before moving back to Michigan. Bob worked hard in a variety of industries through the years. When they returned to Michigan, he worked in construction for a time. Bob then began working as a salesman for ABI, a baby furniture maker, and he started striping parking lots on the side. For a time he also owned a sporting goods store that he later sold. Not long after they were married, Bob and Jean welcomed their daughter, Wendy, in January of 1965 who was followed by daughter Cyndi in December of that same year. Although Bobs sales position required quite a bit of travel, when he was home the family enjoyed spending time together doing things such as camping, boating, snowmobiling, riding mini bikes, going ice fishing, and taking fun-filled trips to Cedar Point. Sundays were usually reserved for watching Wild Kingdom as a family. Bob and Jean later divorced, but he was so grateful for the girls they shared together. Some time later, Bob met and married Debbie Collins who brought her son Brian into Bobs life. The three of them lived in an apartment building that Bob owned on Pine Street. Unfortunately, when Brian was only four years old Debbie died after battling cancer. As fate would have it, Bob found his soul mate to be a woman named Joyce who was a friend to both Bob and Debbie while she was alive. Joyces children, Bill and Dawn, also came with her and together they moved to a house on Russell Road. Bobs striping business grew into a full-time job and became Muskegon Striping and Pavement Maintenance. He owned and operated the company for over 30 years. There were many things that Bob enjoyed through the years. He loved watching his children participate in their various activities as often as time allowed. Bob loved to take his children hunting and fishing, a time his son Brian truly enjoyed. His children also went ice fishing with him at times, but they knew there was to be no complaining about being cold period! One day Bob was concentrating on his ice fishing so intently that he didnt notice that Brian had his leg stuck in an ice hole until someone else had freed his leg. He could build and fix just about anything including all of the equipment he made for his striping business. Bob raised Beagles, rabbits, and snapping turtles, and his best friend was his Beagle named Bob's Buddy. Bob and Joyce liked taking road trips wherever the road seemed to lead including along the East Coast, Niagara Falls, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. They also went to Hawaii on one occasion where Bob caught a mahi-mahi that was almost six feet long! Bob and Joyce also loved watching NASCAR together while cheering on his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon. In September of 2009, Bob was diagnosed with cancer and even though he was a man with great strength and determination, his body was not able to overcome that which his spirit was willing. Robert Walker was a jack of all trades from building and fixing nearly everything to being a whiz with numbers. He loved a great many things throughout his life such as hunting and fishing, NASCAR racing, and classical music, but spending time with those he loved always topped his list. Bob worked hard throughout his life, yet took every moment captive and made it his own. He was a spontaneous and funny man who could be a bit feisty and headstrong at times, but he also had a loving and genuine heart. Bob will be dearly missed and fondly remembered. Robert H. Walker died Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Roberts family includes his significant other, Joyce Rutherford; sons, Brian (Nikki) Walker, Richard Walker, Ronald (Dawn) Walker, William Barrett; daughters, Wendy Walker, Cyndi (Greg) Luci, Dawn (Woody) VanBlargan; grandchildren, Jason, Lori, Derek, Briggette, Josh, Jake, Tone, Kadir, Kyah, Billy; great grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; 2nd wife, Debbie; step mother, Leota. Services will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010, 2:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with ?????officiating. Interment at Mona View Cemetery. Visit with Bobs family and friends on Friday, 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Homes Muskegon location Muskegon, MI. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to Harbor Hospice.