Colonel USAF Retired - Age 83
Bob has now joined his parents, Ralph and Laura, in the kingdom of Jesus Christ Our Savior and Lord. He was born in Minneapolis, MN on 11-22-33- a very unique birthday so easy to remember! Bob graduated from DeLasalle High School in Minneapolis, then went on to the University of Minnesota to study Electrical Engineering. Bob was drafted into the USAF Aviation Cadets. He was an aircraft performance engineer on the B-36 @ Fairchild Air Force Base in the mid 1950’s. Bob met the love of his life- Joyce Y. Childs in Spokane. Joyce and Bob met on a blind date. Bob was actually seeking out a blonde from Minnesota. His friend found one and set him up with Joyce. The rest is history that started an amazing life journey and legacy. Bob and Joyce were married at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Spokane in 1956, then transferred to Biggs AFB, Texas. Several years later he attended Oklahoma State University. Bob acquired a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering. He then became Financial Analyst Systems Commander at Andrews AFB Maryland, taught Finite Math at George Washington University and while on a 10-year tour in the Washington DC area became Operations Research Analyst under the Chief of Staff for the USAF. In 1973 his next assignment transferred him to Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Bob became the Financial Analyst for Subsonic Cruiser Armed Decoy and Deputy Director for the EF-111A Systems. He promoted to the rank of Colonel in the USAF while at Wright Patterson AFB and then Director of Program Control of Aeronautical Equipment Program Office. His next and final transfer was to Vandenburg AFB outside of Lompoc, CA. For his last two years in active duty, he was the Comptroller of the Space and Missile Test Center (SAMTEC). Bob and his family retired to the place he referred to as “God’s Country”- a return to Spokane, WA where Joyce and he met and married. Throughout his military career across the United States, Bob and Joyce had six children and managed to take the family on a vacation every year. They both enjoyed the game of Bridge and Bob almost never missed a Saturday on the golf course. Once retired, sometimes 5 times a week! After retiring from the military, Bob started the Bob Bublitz Agency, a tax/insurance agency. He later partnered with and bought into A & B Mortgage. He enrolled in the Business Administration program at EWU where he earned his 2nd Master’s degree – an MBA. Bob served on the Spokane Substance Abuse Board and was very active in the development and implementation of Veterans for Sobriety. In the late 1980’s Bob contracted cancer. He not only fought for his country, he was fighting for his life. His attitude overcame the obstacles. Cancer did not get the best of him. Bob and Joyce later went on over a dozen cruises. They went to China, South America, Norway, Hungary, Rome, Germany, England and many other countries. However, Bob’s most important element of his life was his family. Everything was about family to him. In 2006, his 50th wedding anniversary, he arranged the 1st Bublitz Family Reunion. Every two years thereafter the family arranged a reunion- Lincoln City, Seaside, Minnesota, Depoe Bay, then the most recent in Sandpoint, ID in 2016. Christmas was his favorite holiday. He was the ultimate kid who happened to be an only child with six children! His appetite for life far exceeded his real appetite! He loved fishing and always looked forward to opening day like it was a national holiday. Up until his 70’s he was an avid racquet ball player. Bob and Joyce bowled, played Bridge and “you better get out of their way” when it was Spokane Chiefs hockey night. Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years- Joyce, six children, Bob Bublitz Jr. (Karen), David Bublitz (Shelley), Becky Bublitz, Bonnie Tapscott (Doug), Janet Fowlds (John), Kenneth Bublitz (Sara), nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Visitation for Bob will be held Saturday from noon until 3pm at the Ball & Dodd Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday July 17, 2017, at 10am at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, 3624 W Indian Trail Rd, Spokane, WA, with interment to follow at 1:30pm at the Washington Veterans Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA. Memorial contributions can be made to Toys for Tots (US Marine Corp).
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