Robert Bob Dean Hackley Sr

Robert Dean Hackley Sr was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything he undertook. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

Bob was born in Upland, California, July 14, 1933. His parents were Porter and Bess Hackley. Bob was raised in Ontario, California. He was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

Growing up in the Hackley household was a bit different than most homes. There were good times to be had, but just as often there was a fair share of challenges as well. However, Bob was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and he was the one person in the family who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. He had two siblings; an older sister, Betty Lee and an older brother, Lewis.

While his teachers and even his friends generally thought of Bob as being a serious person, he managed to have a pretty good time in high school as he made that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He graduated from Chaffey High School, Ontario, California in 1951. His favorite class in high school was math. Bob was a very logical person who enjoyed learning about factual information. Using his exceptional memory, he was able to learn much through observation. Bob always seemed to have a command of the facts and was able to make it seem as though he could easily master any problem that might be presented to him.

On August 20, 1955, Bob exchanged wedding vows with Patricia Lucille Grover at the Wee Kirk of the Heather of Las Vegas, Nevada. Compassionate and devoted to Patricia, Bob held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He was a source of strength to Patricia and using his gifts at nurturing one-on-one relationships, he worked hard to make his new family happy.

Bob brought the same traditional values in his marriage to bear on how he raised his children. He was a good parent to them, always firm yet fair in his dealings. He would always listen carefully and think things through before he acted, even when it was an adverse situation. Bob was also a walking schedule, always seeming to know what everyone in the family needed to do, where they needed to be and when they needed to be there. Bob was blessed with four children, two daughters, Dani and Jennifer and two sons, Robert, Jr and William. They were also blessed with nine grandchildren, Robert, III, Ashley, Baileigh, Reilly, Madison, Kaitlyn, Ethan, Stephanie and John and two great grandchildren, Daylen and Alyssah.

Bob greatly enjoyed what he did for a living. He was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. He was skilled at working effectively in small groups and in one-on-one situations as well as handling solo assignments efficiently. Bob enjoyed dealing with concrete ideas and could penetrate any amount of fuzzy information to reach the essential facts. Always able to attend to the task at hand, Bob was excellent at meeting deadlines. He was an efficient worker, one who paid careful attention to detail, allowing sufficient time to complete one task before moving on to the next. His primary occupation was Sr. Tech Representative on Jet Engines for General Electric. He was employed for 38 years with General Electric. Bob worked hard to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Bob was an Army veteran. He was stationed in Germany from 1953 to 1955. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Corporal. He received praise for his valor, including being awarded National Defense Service Medal, Army Occupation Medal Germany and Good Conduct Medal. A literal thinker who possessed a calm exterior, Bob seemed to enjoy the routines set forth by the military. His results-oriented approach to things made him committed to the job, and he understood well his role in serving his country.

Bob found pleasure in sports. Being a person who was comfortable making win/lose decisions throughout life, he could appreciate that athletes made those types of decisions in sports. He applauded those who won, and he enjoyed the statistical data and sports facts and could find himself wrapped up in those details. In high school, Bob played basketball. Recreational sports included bowling, basketball, golf and darts. He would watch his favorite sporting events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball, football and golf.

Bob enjoyed traveling and taking vacations. Since he was an early starter and had a knack for planning everything, traveling with Bob appeared effortless. He enjoyed researching all of his examined options and applying cost-effective planning techniques. Plus, no matter where he traveled, Bob always had a back up plan at the ready, just in case. Favorite vacations included trips to Canada and England to visit his friends.

When Bob’s retirement finally arrived in 1992, he was well prepared. He always trusted and placed value in what was logical and in the things he knew, so he was very confident in planning his retirement. He had begun the process early and had his retirement all laid out well in advance. His new life involved relocating to Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning, California when Pat retired in 2001. In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing golf and sitting out front in the court yard in the evenings talking to friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed baking. Even in retirement, Bob continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was active in his new community and felt fulfilled.

Robert Dean Hackley Sr passed away on December 1, 2010 at his home in Banning, California. Bob fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by his wife, Pat; his children, Dani (Ron), Jennifer (Lance), Robert, Jr and William (Susan); his grandchildren, Robert, III (Ashley), Ashley, Baileigh, Reilly, Madison, Kaitlyn, Ethan, Stephanie and John (Trisha) and his great grandchildren, Daylen and Alyssah. Services were held Tuesday, December 7, 2010, at 3:00 PM, at Weaver Mortuary, 1177 Beaumont Ave., Beaumount, California.

Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of Robert Dean Hackley Sr. he was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.