The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Robert Allen Bacon, 93, of Cathlamet, passed away at the Hospice Care Center on Dec. 22, 2015.

He was born Sept. 23, 1922, in Portland, Ore., to Oliver S. and Esther Bacon. His family moved to Cathlamet in 1937, where he graduated from Wahkiakum High School in 1940.

Bob married Virginia Strait in 1940. They were married 74 years when she preceded him in death Jan. 10, 2015. Also preceding him in death were his parents, a daughter Cathy Seaberg, and his brother Oliver.

He joined the Army Air Corps during WWII and made several lifelong friends, referring to them as his “Army Buddies.”

Bob had a variety of jobs, one of the first working in a service station, as he had a lifelong interest in and love of cars. He became partners in Prue’s Toggery, a menswear store in Cathlamet and later he and Virginia were sole owners, renaming it The Toggery. They later purchased the variety store in Cathlamet naming it Bacon’s Variety. During his years as a merchant, he also sold insurance, drove school bus and worked for Wahkiakum County. He was very proud of initiating the formation of the Port District in Wahkiakum County and then being instrumental in developing the Cathlamet Marina.

Bob and Virginia enjoyed ballroom dancing, traveling and wintering in Arizona. Bob was also a sports enthusiast and for years had season tickets to the Trailblazers. Later he became more interested in college basketball, particularly the Duke Blue Devils and was pleased to see them win the National Championship this year.

Bob loved the Lord and attended River of Life Assembly of God Church, the church his father started when they first moved to Cathlamet.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law Debra and Timothy Vrtiska and grandchildren Sheryl Landon of Seattle, Susan Seaberg of Enumclaw, Nicole Carter of Longview and Robert Watkins of Reno.

A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 2 at The River of Life Assembly of God Church in Cathlamet. Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Donations are suggested to Hospice.