Robert R. Garman

1938 - 2016

Robert "Bob" Ray Garman, 77, of Oak Hills, California, passed away Friday, April 8, 2016 at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

Bob was born July 10, 1938 in Upland, California to Norris and Mildred Garman. After graduating from Bonita High School in La Verne, California in 1956, he joined the Navy and completed training in Pensacola, Florida. After some time in Europe, he was stationed in Brunswick, Maine which is where he married his high school sweetheart Cora "Betsy" Myron on April 2, 1960. While stationed in Maine their first son, Dennis Garman, was born.

After his service in the Navy, the Garman's drove cross country so Bob could begin enrollment at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Soon afterward, Bob and Betsy's second son, Gary Garman, was born. Upon graduation from Cal Poly Pomona, Bob began his career in the real estate/mortgage banking industry. Bob spent most of his career at Occidental Mortgage in Pomona, California, and Directors Mortgage in Riverside, California. Bob was also an active member of various real estate organizations and the Kiwanis Club.

Bob was an avid hunter, fisherman, off-roader, and all-around outdoorsman. The Garman family would enjoy monthly Jeep club runs and camping throughout the mountains and deserts of California. Their yearly family vacations took them on camping road trips to places such as Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, including a six-week motorhome trip covering the far reaches of the continental United States. Bob also relished time spent during his annual "guys hunting trips" with his sons and close friends.

Bob always had a passion for hot rods, and assembled an impressive collection over the years. He and Betsy were "long haulers" completing the Hot Rod Power Tour five times driving a 40's or 50's hot rod from coast to coast and back. During retirement, Bob and Betsy enjoyed showing cars from their collection in numerous car shows across the Southwest. They also enjoyed recently serving as a foster home for a local Golden Retriever rescue organization.

Bob is survived by his wife Betsy, his two sons Dennis and Gary (daughter-in-law Wendy), his granddaughter Michelle Garman, and his sister Roberta Osborne.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation would be welcomed to Best Friends Animal Society (bestfriends.org) or to your local Golden Retriever rescue organization.