Robert John Eichenberg

1922 - 2014

Robert John Eichenberg Robert John Eichenberg entered this world on October 12, 1922, and flew into the wild blue yonder with the angels on August 16, 2014. His parents Ruby and Joseph Eichenberg and his older brother Joe, predeceased him. The family had deep roots in San Bernardino, where Bob and Joe were born and raised. The family business was Eichenberg's Caf‚, across Third Street from the railroad station. Bob graduated from San Bernardino High School and attended Chaffey Junior College while awaiting his appointment to West Point. He was elected to be president of the student body at Chaffey until an infamous practical joke backfired. The details, although entertaining, are not pertinent, but Bob resigned as president rather than give up his fellow pranksters. Bob's sojourn at West Point was shortened to three years rather than the standard four because of the war. He graduated in the Class of 1946. It was during summer maneuvers after his plebe year that his desire to be a pilot solidified. As he told it, there they were hot, dirty and sweaty, learning to be soldiers the hard way, the West Point way. An Army Air Corps single engine plane flew overhead and as Bob watched it streak across the sky, he realized he, too, could be dry and clean and have a heck of a time flying planes. He trained as a pilot for the Army Air Corps, flying P-51 Mustangs at Luke Field in Arizona. Much to his delight, he was chosen to be in the First Fighter Group at March Air Force Base from 1946 1948 flying the F-80 "Shooting Star." Flying jets as a fighter pilot was just so much fun! By now, his daughter Gena was born. Before her first birthday, he shipped out to Okinawa, Japan assigned to the 25th Fighter Squadron for two years, from 1948 1950. His second daughter Judith was three months old before the family was allowed to join him in Okinawa, living in a Quonset hut on the base. After a year, the family returned stateside and moved from military base to military base, including a stint at Craig Air Force Base where he was a pilot instructor. Bob's youngest daughter Robin was born there, in Selma, Alabama. That same day, Bob's orders for Korea came through and he flew F-86 Sabre Jets in Korea for 12 months. This was followed by his assignment to the 4th Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Force Base in Japan, located on the Northern end of Honshu Island. There, Bob's daughters experienced snow for the first time and Bob taught them the proper way to make a snowman. In 1957, the family returned to the States and Bob was eventually assigned to the Strategic Air Ground Command, 26th Air Division, in Syracuse, New York. Rather than "fly a desk," Bob resigned his commission and brought his family back to Southern California. He began working as a civil engineer for North American Aviation and then for NAA's Autonetics Division, working on the B-70 navigation system. He continued flying in the Air Force Reserves until he retired as a Lt. Colonel. During several memorable reserve weekends, he dropped hay to starving cattle trapped by blizzards in the Midwest and delivered supplies to the troops in Viet Nam, flying C-119s. He described this plane as "trying to fly a refrigerator." By now, Bob's daughters were grown and living in Northern California. He was divorced and soon rediscovered his interest in writing. He enrolled in a creative writing course at UC Irvine. A lovely blonde caught his eye, and, to his delight, LaDorna agreed to go out with him. Like Bob, LaDorna had three daughters Jorli, Lisa and Terri. Sadly, Terri succumbed to cancer at the age of 20. Bob and LaDorna married on February 28, 1975. At the ceremony, Bob announced to their families and friends that he had accepted the teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In the Church, Bob's ideals of Duty, Honor and Country found a spiritual home. LaDorna was an art teacher and opened Bob's eyes to a beautiful world of color and design. They struggled in their early years, while rejoicing in each other. Often, LaDorna would tell Bob how difficult it was for the teachers to cut out all the letters for their classroom bulletin boards. LaDorna had an inspiration for a machine to do this and Bob engineered her idea. Thus was born the Ellison Letter Machine and Ellison Educational Equipment, Inc. The company expanded beyond their wildest dreams as Bob's and LaDorna's partnership built on each one's strengths. In 1992, Bob and LaDorna were looking for a new home. They were viewing a house on Balboa Island, when LaDorna spotted a home for sale across the way on a small island known as Collins Island. Bob could not quite see the charm LaDorna described, but amiably agreed that living on the Bay would suit them. LaDorna's vision created a beautiful home that Bob absolutely loved. Bob was always involved in politics and the success of their company allowed him to become very active, to the delight of the Republican Party and conservative candidates across the country. He remained active in the West Point Association of Graduates and continued his support of West Point activities and sports through the years. The Army/Navy football game was Bob's favorite game of the season. For years, he and Ollie North had a friendly bet on the outcome. Unfortunately, the only cloud on Bob's last years was Army's dismal record against Navy. GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY! Bob's other (more successful) love was for the Angels baseball team. His season tickets were treasured. LaDorna was not quite as enthusiastic as Bob, so many friends had the pleasure of sharing peanuts at Angel Stadium with Bob, so long as they arrived before the Star-Spangled Banner and the first pitch. Bob's years in the Air Force infused him with a love of travel. He and LaDorna traveled the world, not only for Ellison Educational Equipment, Inc., but also with their dear friends Ken and Barbara Everson. Ken and Bob were very close and enjoyed riding many, many miles in the saddles of their Gold Wing motorcycles. Bob was a supporter of the arts and especially opera. He loved being cast as a spear carrier in one production. Bob was an officer and a gentleman, a dearly loved husband and father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He leaves behind his eternally sealed wife, LaDorna; his daughters Gena Rae Eichenberg, Judith (and Lowell) Roberts and Robin Jo Eichenberg, Jorli Perine and Lisa (and David) Corcoran; his grandchildren Jill (and Ron) Marr, Jason (and Sarah) Esquerra, Jacob (and Melissa) Roberts, Geoffrey Huber, Zachary Roberts, Ely (and Kathleen) Ahle, Ashley (and Noah Edwards) Ahle, Kristin Highberg, Josh Newell, Erin Highberg, Damon Newell, Rory Newell, Daniel Newell, Anna Newell, and Nick (and Ellie) Newell; and his great-grandchildren Lucas Marr, Nikki Foster, Wyatt Parker Cunningham, Nate Esquerra and Valen Ahle. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the following: Huntsman Cancer Institute Sarcoma Fund, University of Utah, 540 Arapeen Dr. Suite 250, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1238 or VNA Hospice of Newport Beach, 2520 Red Hill Ave. Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA, 92750. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com and click on obits.