Robert H. Caughron

October 9, 1943 - October 17, 2016 Robert H. Caughron of Pasadena passed away on October 17, 2016, at a hospital in Chico, Calif. His family members were with him at his bedside at the end of his life.A week earlier, Robert had been driving to meet them to celebrate his 73rd birthday. En route he suffered a heart attack. His car veered off the highway and crashed. He regained consciousness and was able to speak, but died of his injuries.Robert is remembered for his devotion to his family, his independent spirit, his buoyant optimism, his endless curiosity about the world and his generosity towards friends and strangers alike. He saw the best in everyone and always had an uplifting tale to tell.Robert was born in Glendale, Calif. As a youngster, he enjoyed baseball, running, tennis, and hikingactivities he pursued throughout most of his life and encouraged in his three sons. After graduating from Cal Western University, he worked at Chester Paul Co., an industrial distribution firm that his father founded in 1948. After Chester died, Robert successfully expanded the company's product lines and operations. He sold part of the business in 1999, and handed management of the company to his son Sean Caughron and longtime business associate and family friend John Heurkins.Being tied down in an office never suited Robert's temperament. In 1989, an opportunity arose to oversee Western region sales of True Manufacturing, a family-owned commercial refrigeration company in St. Louis, Mo. Robert loved being on the move. He traveled extensively to see clients, setting his own hours and schedule. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Robert was one of the first salesmen to sell U.S. refrigeration equipment in the old Soviet bloc. During this time he was also responsible for True sales in Europe and the Middle East.Robert's lifelong passion was photography. He carried a camera with him everywhere, capturing precious milestones in his children's lives, the grandeur of Monument Valley and the glories of a lingering Maui sunset. He crisscrossed the country in his trusty Chinooks--visiting friends, nurturing clients and exploring the natural beauty of our national parks.In the early 1990s, Robert embraced digital photography and other advances in personal technology. For many years, he regularly attended Macworld events in San Francisco, and was inspired by the technical advances and new products on display. Long before photo-sharing apps, Robert was creating real-time slideshows on his computer.Robert will be sorely missed by all who appreciated his kindness, his thoughtfulness, and his good humor. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Teri Unsworth Caughron; son Sean Paul Caughron, daughter-in-law Suzette Whitmyer Caughron; son Alexander George Caughron, daughter-in-law Margaret Koehler Caughron; and son Michael Robert Spencer Caughron. Also surviving him is his first wife, Sean's mother, Susan Penfield Wientjes.The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations in Robert's memory be made to the National Park Service at https://donate.nationalparks.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1957&ea.campaign.id=53869. The memorial service for Robert Caughron will be held at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena, Calif. on Saturday, November 5th, 11:00 AM.