Robert Rudolph Triner

Robert was born May 12, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis and Viola Triner. He had five siblings: sisters Phyllis, Lois, and Sandy, and brothers Louis and Jim, and attended Chicago Vocational High School in Chicago, where he studied aircraft maintenance.

While still in high school, Bob met the love of his life, Mary Florance “Flo” Potter, at the Jewel-T grocery store in Chicago, where they both worked. Bob married Flo on March 12, 1960 in Chicago, which Bob had recently said was the best thing he’d ever done in his life. They set off on their honeymoon, following the setting sun along Route 66 to California in their brand-new red Volkswagen Beetle, and never looked back. Thus began the tender love story of their 60-year marriage.

California was truly the “Promised Land” for the young couple. Bob fulfilled his military obligation in the Army National Guard as an M-60 tank driver, followed by a stint in the reserves. During this period of separation early in their marriage, the young couple exchanged numerous love letters. Once reunited, Bob and Flo bought their first and only home in Rancho Cucamonga, where he took pride in caring for their house and making it everything Flo wanted. They raised their two daughters, Laura and Debbie (the second-best thing Bob said he’d done in his life), creating a loving, secure, and nurturing environment. Bob worked as a department manager at various grocery stores in southern California before opening “The Shoe Cobbler”, a shoe repair business in Upland, CA, with his brother Louis. Bob also enjoyed woodworking, making items for his family and home, and working with his younger brother Jim to do woodworking projects for customers.

After his retirement in 2008, Bob and Flo loved to travel, especially with their immediate family, visiting relatives in the Chicago area and elsewhere across the United States. They also traveled to Alaska, Europe, Ireland, and Hawaii, with the highlight of their travels being a cruise with their daughters and sons-in-law through the Panama Canal for their 50th wedding anniversary, and visiting several other countries along the way.

Bob was a very kind and thoughtful man. Though he endured numerous medical challenges during his last few years, he charmed his numerous caregivers, doctors, nurses, and hospice providers with his gentle demeanor and sense of humor to the very end, and will be fondly remembered by all those fortunate enough to have known him.

Robert Rudolph Triner is survived by his daughter Debbie House and sons-in-law Mike House and Doug Shultz, his brothers Louis and Jim, sister Sandy, and many extended family members. He will remain in our hearts forever.

A celebration of his life will be held at a private residence. A website where you can leave messages for the family or share your memories of Bob has been set up:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ontario-ca/robert-triner-11796243