Bob was born 2/16/51 in Monticello, Arkansas but moved to Valley Station, Kentucky at a very young age where his father who was career Army, served at Fort Knox. After graduating from United Electronics Institute in 1971, he moved to California to pursue work. A year later while living with his Aunt and Uncle, he met the “girl next door” and would marry her after knowing her for only four months. It would prove to be the right decision as they became inseparable and were happily married for 48 years.
He started his career at American Hospital Supply Company as a Field Service Technician troubleshooting and repairing hospital medical equipment. After growing tired of the travel, he joined Hughes Aircraft. When the project he was working on at Hughes ended, he and his wife Dee, moved to Bremerton, Washington where he worked as an Electronics Engineer on a Naval weapons system at the Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station in Keyport, troubleshooting and resolving problems. That contract ended four years later and they returned to Southern California.
Eventually Hughes was purchased by Boeing and Bob began working as an Electronics Engineer on satellites at Boeing Space and Communications in El Segundo. He finished his career with Boeing in Huntington Beach when he retired at age 55, in 2006.
After retirement he was able to devote more time to his love of model railroading. He was meticulous with all aspects of his layout from building the framework, to the wiring, to laying the track, the scenery, everything had to be perfect and prototypically correct. He also loved the real diesel engines and never got tired of railfanning and taking pictures of the trains.
He joined the L&N Historical Society to support their preservation of the memory of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. This led to him volunteering and becoming the editor of the society’s magazine. He would edit articles and prepare camera-ready copy for the publisher.
He was a devoted husband, always putting the needs of his wife before his own needs. He was also a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan. He enjoyed several memorable weekends during football season when he and Dee would fly to Dallas for a game. He loved the excitement of being at Texas Stadium and Dee enjoyed the fabulous shopping.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Thelma and Floyd Berry. He is survived by his wife Dee, his sister Linda Newton of Louisville, KY, his mother-in-law Doris Dube, who loved him as if he were her own son, nephews Sam Freeh, Christopher Freeh, and niece Ginny Freeh.
He was a kind and thoughtful person who would do anything for anybody and will be greatly missed by many.
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