Robert Emmet Crow

The world has lost a true gentleman in every sense of the word, with the passing of Robert (Bob) E. Crow, formerly of Edmonds, Washington, on March 24, at the age of 91 from the devastating effects of Parkinsons disease. He is beloved by Doreen, his wife of 64 years, sons David (San Francisco), Greg (Selah) and Jon (Brooklyn, NY) and his daughter Diana Boyle, son-in-law Kevin, and grandson Ryan (Kirkland). He is predeceased by son Larry. Bob was born on January 28, 1924 in Carlisle, Washington. He met Mom, the girl next door, after his family moved to Portland, Oregon while he was in the Navy during World War II. He was in the Navy from 1942-1945. He started out at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane as a Navy Pilot trainee. His fellow students nicknamed him Downwind. When his friend died in a plane crash in training, he switched to training for anti-submarine warfare. He was stationed in the Philippine Theatre and fought in the Battle of Surigoa Strait. After being discharged from the Navy, he attended college at the University of Oregon. Bob and Doreen wed during his Christmas Break in 1950. After graduation, they moved to Seattle and then a year later to Yakima, where they lived for thirty years and raised five children. Dad loved classical music, Snickers Bars and peanut butter. After eating a particularly good meal Bob loved to say that it was good, what there was of it. This became a family joke that we will carry on. Bob, Doreen and the kids went to the YMCA in Yakima twice a week and every Friday night to the Yakima Public Library. Dad was a role model for fitness and life-long learning. He studied French and even when he could no longer play the piano, he continued to read sheet music. Camping in Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens National Parks as well as trips to the Oregon coast continue to provide fond memories of the time we spent growing up as a family. In 1982 Mom and Dad left Yakima and came to Edmonds where Dad continued to work as a bookkeeper for several companies. Eventually he retired from Chermak Construction at the age of 83. Those last fifteen years of his career at Chermak were his favorite as he loved being surrounded by the younger staff there, who kept him feeling young and vital. After retirement he maintained contact with many of his former co-workers, especially Judy and Howard Chermak, who have been very supportive of our family as we have traveled this journey with Dad during final years. At the age of 70, Dad fell while playing soccer in the dark with his only grandchild Ryan and the EMTs laughed all the way to Evergreen Hospital that evening. He was at Ryans sports games and there were always Tootsie rolls at Chermak for Ryans visits, although Dad ate just as many. Mom and Dad loved visiting Jon in New York enough to try to retire there, but missed Edmonds. They returned four months later and bought their condo in downtown Edmonds, where they could be seen walking downtown and attending monthly Art Walks. Bob/Dad took great pride in his health. In spite of his battle with Parkinsons in his waning years, he gallantly cared for Doreen when she became blind six years ago. When his health finally rendered him unable to do so, they had to leave their beloved Edmonds and move to Kirkland to a family care home near Diana and her family. We know Dad is now pain-free and at peace, and knows we will take care of Mom for him. Dad, we love you and will miss you. Thank you for your example of a life well lived, what there was of it.