BOMBER MEMORIAL

ROBERT LOUIS "BOB" DeSOTO ~ Class of 1967
February 13, 1949 - April 21, 2015

~



Bob (beloved husband, brother, uncle and friend) passed away peacefully at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane on April 21, 2015. at the age of 66.

Bob was born February 13, 1949, to Jem DeSoto and Ura Oreita Smith DeSoto in Portland, Oregon. He was the fifth son of seven children.

The family settled in West Richland where he grew up. During his early years he attended school in the Richland School District and graduated from Richland's Columbia High School in 1967. After high school he attended Columbia Basin College.

In 1969 he went into the Navy, and after schooling went into the Nuclear Sub division until his honorable discharge in 1975.

He and Robbie met in 1977 and were married on June 8, 1991. They made their home in Richland until the last nine years. They also lived in Benton City where his sister lives.

Bob worked in the Hanford area from 1975 until he retired in 2004. Then he worked as a security guard for Guardsmark at Boise Cascade from 2005 until the time of his death.

He was known by his friends as "Aruba Bob" and "Big Bob". His friends who knew him well were all afraid of his deadly digit. He loved singing Karaoke by himself and with his friends. He loved the Seattle Seahawks and also loved to cook and barbeque for his friends and family.



Bob was preceded in death by his father, Jem DeSoto, on January 11, 1992; mother, Ura Oreita Smith DeSoto, on March 25, 1997: brothers, James DeSoto ('58), on June 6, 2011, and Richard L. DeSoto; sister, Carole Jean DeSoto Taylor ('62); and great niece, Larissa Mary Louise Lawson, on July 12, 1999.

Bob is survived by his beloved wife, soul mate and best friend for 37 years, Robbie DeSoto. He had two dogs, Maggie Mae and Sparky, whom he adored a lot. He also leaves behind two brothers: David DeSoto and Jack DeSoto ('65); one sister, Finis Marie DeSoto ('68); numerous nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and one great-great nephew.

His memorial was held May 9, 2015, at Einan's Sunset Event Center with a Celebration of Life that followed at Ray’s Golden Lion in Richland.

Bomber Memorial put together by Maren SMYTH ('63 and '64) and edited by Shirley COLLINGS Haskins ('66).