Robert Roland Western

February 25, 1919 – June 25, 2011

 

Lois Amelia Western

April 18, 1919 – July 7, 2011

 

I owe my life and any success to my amazing parents, who were supportive in every way to my life long interests in science and art. They were people of exceptional character and unwavering values. I proudly share their story of dedication and love.

 

 

This is the story of Bob & Lois, whose love and friendship could not be extinguished, even in death.

 

 

Bob, one of two boys and two girls, joined the 4H at San Rafael High School and graduated in 1936. He attended U.C. Davis working toward a degree in landscaping, but the financial needs of the family and later the war led him in another direction. Although animals would play a major role in his life he held other jobs over the years - a sheet metal worker, ceramic assembly line worker, a seasonal ranch hand, a veterinary assistant and an animal control officer for the SPCA. He joined the Marine Reserves and became one of the over 4,000 Americans sent to Iceland as the first line of defense against a possible German invasion of the east coast. When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Sergeant Western was sent from Iceland to California. The Marines recognized Bob’s swimming skills and gave him the task to set up a swimming program in Del Mar, California. Before being sent to the Pacific Theater he taught hundreds of fellow Marines to swim – undoubtedly saving many lives during island assaults across the Pacific. He fought, as the leader of a mortar platoon, on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, and Okinawa. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry under fire.

 

Lois, the only child of middle-aged parents, graduated from Dominican High School in 1936 and was awarded an AA degree from Marin Junior College (now College of Marin) in 1938. She worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company in San Francisco and then became a switchboard operator for the Marin Municipal Water District. She would be one of the first people to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge when it was completed in 1937. Years later Bob would swim across the treacherous waters between San Francisco and the Marin headlands. We can’t exactly call it a commute, but he did swim the Golden Gate multiple times.

 

After the war Bob & Lois were introduced to one another by mutual friends, fell in love, and were married on November 17, 1946. They moved to the Monterey Peninsula to begin their new life and were rarely parted in over 65 years. They built Tri-City Dog & Cat Boarding Kennels next to the veterinary practice of Bob’s brother, Ralph. Bob did grooming, taught dog obedience courses and managed the kennel. Lois worked at the front desk, delivered the evening feeding (dogs, cats, and husband), and did the bookkeeping. Bob’s skill at clipping dogs, and the kennels reputation for giving special care attracted many faithful regulars and local celebrities, like Greer Garson and Bing Crosby. Tri-City was the choice when movies came to town and needed animal care. Bob and Lois hosted lions, trained parrots, a fawn, and a movie stunt deer (used in the movie "The Sandpiper," starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Eva Marie Saint, and Charles Bronson.) They also cared for wild animals brought to Bob’s brother for rehab. There were pygmy owls, a harbor seal, a sea otter, and a coatimundi (a visual cross between a raccoon, with the nose of a pig, and a long clawed badger with the gait of an anteater.)

 

There was time for fun as well. Bob was one of the first free divers and SCUBA divers in Monterey Bay. Lois would help him into a thin rubber dry-suit and seal it by tightening a pipe clamp with a screwdriver. His job  was to bring home abalone for dinner and her job was to sit on shore and worry. That was the “buddy system” in those days. Bob also raised chinchillas, rabbits, and just enough chickens for morning eggs. Lois was a devout Catholic and would often volunteer at St. Angeles church. She loved to sew, knit, embroider, draw, and create nature scenes with glass and ceramic tiles. She also studied the genealogy of the Putnam and Weston* clans – producing reams of documentation for generations to come.

 

They also loved to dance. It reminded them of their first dates at the USO. Their favorite Marin County dance hall was an outdoor pavilion in the redwood trees, surrounded by colored lights and a bright white paper moon. They both loved to garden and work on their property on the Garrapata ridge above Palo Colorado Canyon, between Carmel and Big Sur, called Casa de Tierra. The Casa is one of the few “tamped earth” structures in the U.S. It was built during the first half of the Twentieth Century by two brothers from England, using decomposed granite (on-site), stucco, concrete and steel. The property was intended to be the Western’s retirement venue. A bad storm, in the early 1980’s, changed their minds. It downed centuries old redwoods, collapsed bridges and washed out roads in the canyon. They continued to maintain and stay for short periods at Casa de Tierra well into their mid 80’s.

 

Bob and Lois had three children. Their first son, John Robert, died just days after he was born. They waited two years before having another, a boy named Robert John, and later a girl, Dorothy Anne. They had two grandchildren and three great grandchildren at the time of their passing.

 

Their life changed in 2004 when Lois had a stroke that paralyzed her on the right side. Bob became her caregiver. He rarely complained about the hard work of caring for his love. They would kiss and say, “I love you,” every night till Bob could no longer speak. As he got weaker their children took over more of their daily care, allowing them to remain at home to their final days.

 

Bob (Robert Roland Western), 92, passed away quietly, with his two children at his side, on June 25, 2011. Lois (Lois Amelia Putnam Western), also 92, could not stand to be without her love and best friend. Despite reasonably good health she closed her eyes and followed him twelve days later on July 7, 2011.

 

Bob was proceeded in death by sisters, Dorothy Weston and Pearl Reeves, his mother Susan Ault, and his brother Ralph Weston, of Carmel, CA. Lois was proceeded in death by her mother, Amelia Brown Putnam, and her father, John Melvin Putnam.

 

They are survived by son Robert John Western of Monterey and Dorothy Anne Rhoads of Lemoore, CA, granddaughter Mandy Vannote, grandson Tom Rhoads, both of Lemoore, and four great grandchildren.

 

A mass was held at St. Angela Merici church, Monday, July 18, 2011 at 11 A.M. Interment occurred immediately after at Mission Memorial Cemetery in Seaside.

 

A very special thanks to the fine people at the Hospice and VNA (Visiting Nurses Association) for making it possible for Bob and Lois to remain home to the end of their lives (and to Medicare for paying for it.) Also, thank you to the wonderful volunteers at Meals On Wheels who were so kind over the years.

 

 

 

* The original family name was “Weston.” Bob’s father wanted to disappear, for some unknown reason, and changed his name to “Western.” Bob’s brother, Ralph, changed his name back to Weston. Bob decided to keep the name Western. This mildly confusing story has been told many thousands of times over the years – making this many thousands of times + 1.

 

* * The Western name would have died with me, but my nephew Tom Rhoads and his wife Molly had a son one year ago, who they kindly named Jack Western Rhoads.

 

Robert J. Western

April 28, 2013