Robert Franklin Cornett

He was born July 22, 1928 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Lloyd Cornett and Veva (Sanford) Cornett. He grew up in Newaygo County, Michigan, in and around Aetna, White Cloud and Fremont, where he made maple syrup and went squirrel hunting with his eighth grade teacher. During his teenage years, he caught many fish off the Muskegon pier, while living in nearby government housing. His family worked for Continental Motors making supplies for the war, as did many families at the time.

Old Bob joined the United States Navy in September 1945 at age 17. While on leave in the summer of 1949, he was introduced to Audrey Schultz by her brother Bill, whose family lived in the same Muskegon government housing. They married on August 8, 1952 in Eureka, California, where Audrey then worked as a telephone operator. While he served in the Navy, Bob and Audrey lived in Kansas, Florida, California and Washington state while raising three children - Kathi, Jon, and Bill. While living in Imperial Beach, California, he was PTA president at his childrens' local elementary school. During his military career, he notably served in the Korean War as an Aviation Ordnance Chief.

After his discharge from the Navy in 1965, Bob and his family settled in the Illinois Valley of Josephine County. Old Bob went to work for Cabax Mill in Kerby until they were sold to Westbrook in the late 1970's. He then worked in the woods for Plumlee Logging, loading log trucks for the summer once the mill closed permanently. From May 1982 to October 1992, Old Bob worked for the City of Cave Junction Public Works Department, retiring as its Director. After his retirement, he kept busy spending as much time as possible outdoors, hiking to the river from his home on Sauer's Flat and exploring the local woods. He believed that in addition to good nutrition, these are great activities for mental health and physical well-being. He loved the Lord - his favorite scripture verse was Galatians 2:20 and his favorite hymn was "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me." He was baptized in the Illinois River in September of 2005.

During his 30+ years of retirement, Old Bob continued to actively serve his community and promote healthy living. He participated in a vegetarian cooking and healthy living seminar and volunteered as a community member at large for the Josephine County Mental Health Board. He assisted at the food pantry in Cave Junction for many years. He also volunteered at the SDA Madrone Elementary School, reading with students. He volunteered for the BLM, keeping the public restrooms at the boardwalk along Eight Dollar Mountain Road clean and tidy. He continued this work until shortly before moving to Grants Pass in June of 2015.

Old Bob was an avid nature photographer and videographer - he undoubtedly amassed the best visual record for Chinook salmon runs on the Illinois River from the early 1990s into the early 2010s. Old Bob facilitated sharing his Great Courses DVD sets on brain health with the residents where he lived in Grants Pass, as well as opening the weekly sessions to the public for anyone interested to join. Regularly, he drove to the public library in Ashland to participate in a brain book discussion group. During the pandemic, he learned to Zoom with this same group to continue their meetings. Old Bob also participated in the Blue Zone groups that were active in Grants Pass for a time before the pandemic. In his 90s, he changed his phone number, learned to text and take fun selfies on his flip phone that his family now treasures. In addition to his curious mind and faithful heart, his sense of humor was a defining character quality - he always delighted in making others laugh.

Old Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Veva, his brother Bernie, and the love of his life, Audrey. His survivors include his daughter Kathleen (Robert), son Jon (Diane), and son William; four grandchildren - Sabrina, Nathan, Kristina and Pamela (Michael); five great-grandchildren - Rian, Camryn, Casey, Cali and Jerzee; his sister-in-law Shirley Hanson and brother-in-law Robert Schultz and many nieces and nephews. Memorials will be held in the spring and summer with interment at Eagle Point National Cemetery in May.

Toodle-oo for now.