Robert Lee Wattenbarger was born on New Year’s Day in 1930 to Maybelle and
Clarence Wattenbarger in Upland, California, growing up in a farmhouse
surrounded by an orange grove with his sister Mary Alice in Cucamonga.
Bob grew up to be as gentle as he was strong and athletic. He loved the
outdoors, was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and played football at
Chaffey High and Chaffey College in Ontario, California. He later graduated from
UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, married his high school
sweetheart Lenore Riegel, and they had two very lucky children, Don, and Jan.
Bob worked as an engineer in the aerospace industry in Southern California for
most of his career days. The family built a home in Miraleste and enjoyed a
happy home life until the children were grown and Robert and Lenore went their
separate ways.

His second act in life began when he married Karen Vogt in 1980, a creative and
vivacious artist, who led him to new adventures of every kind. They often
traveled, sometimes in their RV, sometimes by boat or plane—and, often, with
family. And, they loved Kaua’i Island.

They also loved their home at the Bay Club in Rancho Palos Verdes where they
would host large family gatherings at holiday season and their bridge groups and
friends on a regular basis. Any day was a good day for a party at Bob and
Karen’s! Their home was filled with light and love.

Bob easily became a part of Karen’s family, as she became a part of his. Strong,
kind, and soft-spoken, Bob was a natural patriarch, always anchoring both of his
families with unconditional love for all.

Bob was loved by so many who met him, from his neighbors and friends at the
Bay Club, to his caregivers in his final years. He was easy to love and quick to
make friends. His strong and gentle ways will be remembered always with love
and gratitude by those of us fortunate to have called him family or friend. He
leaves a large family and an empty space behind in the hearts of those who
survive him: his loving son, Don Wattenbarger (Lina Carro), and loving daughter,
Janet Ware (Robert); his loving stepdaughters and their families: Christina
Sherritt (Kirstin, Steve, Michelle and Mike); Donna Hill (Seth, Kenny, and
Joseph); stepson-in-law Bob Cordes; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Fred
and Sue Christie and their family along with many dear friends, neighbors, and
caregivers.

Preceding him in death were his loving wife, Karen; his stepdaughter, Linda
Cordes; and, his stepson-in-law Mike Sherritt (Christina) who all loved him dearly
as well as his mother, father, sister and former wife, Lenore Anvick.