Robert Earl "Bob" Pepper,

Robert Earl Pepper, Jr. passed away early Saturday morning, July 23, 2011, at Centennial Health Care Center in Greeley. He was born August 11, 1925 in Chillicothe, Missouri to Robert E. and Flora (Yocum) Pepper. Bob graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1943 and attended the University of Missouri. During WWII, he was an Electrician’s Mate 1C in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the Gen. U.S. Morton delivering Army troops to the battle front and the wounded to the nearest hospital. After returning from the war, Bob owned a radio and television repair shop in Chillicothe and married his high school sweetheart, Viola ("Vickie”) Bartlett on August 10, 1947. In 1953, the Peppers moved to Denver, Colorado to work for A.T.&T. During his tenure there, Robert served as a facilities engineer, eventually becoming an operations manager for Mountain Bell. Transferred to Colorado Springs, Colorado, New York City, Ney York, and Phoenix, Arizona, he was a District Manager for Business Sales and Marketing. After his retirement in 1981, Bob and Vickie returned to Colorado with Bob working for Shaffer Enterprises Inc. in Greeley. He became a caregiver for Vickie when she suffered a stroke in 2008 until he could no longer overcome his own declining health. Bob was a member of Greeley Wesleyan Church and was remembered for his sense of humor, compassion, and great love for God, his family and many friends. Bob is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Vickie; daughters, Pamela Wilhelm (Rusty) of Greeley, Deborah Lindberg (Richard) of Stratford, CT; grandsons, Jason Shaver, Timothy Shaver; granddaughters, Stephanie Wilhelm, Stacie Wilhelm, Sarah Wilhelm, Sharon Wilhelm Forsythe (Michael), Rebekah Shaver and Hannah Shaver; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a brother. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Greeley Wesleyan Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Military Honors provided by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.