Robert Christopher Abrams

Robert Christopher Abrams, 90, passed away peacefully in his Bakersfield home on May 4, 2015.
There will be a Service at St. Francis Church, Bakersfield, on Friday, May 8th at 11am.
Born in Oakland, California, Bob was the youngest of three children. He remained in the Bay Area during his early life, and in 1942, joined the US Navy V12 program at the University of California, Berkeley. Bob graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering in three years, then headed off to the Pacific as an officer of an attack transport ship, The USS Lycoming. After a tour in the Pacific, he transitioned from active duty to the Navy reserve in 1947. Bob began his career as an Electrical Engineer with the California Public Utility Commission. Five years later, he met his Irish love, Annie Craig. Bob and Annie were soon married, and in 1952, they moved to Los Gatos where he joined The Los Gatos Telephone Company.
Bob and Annie had three children: Maureen, Sharon and John. Bob's sister's son, Hal Faulkner, lived with the family and was always considered one of their own children. In 1968, Bob had an opportunity to join what later became Contel Corporation and moved his family to Bakersfield in 1970. He became President of Contel's Western Region with 6,000 employees regionwide. Bob was known by his employees as an honest, compassionate, fair, equal minded boss. He would always make time for any of his staff, regardless of their position. No one ever felt they were bothering a busy man. Bob retired from Contel in 1988 and began to pursue an active, more philanthropic career. He finally had the time to participate in many community activities and enjoy more time with his family and friends.
Annie, his wife and love of forty-three years, passed away from cancer in 1995.
Four years later, Bob would fall in love again with Doreen Boylan of Bakersfield. Since the Abrams' and Boylan children had been friends for years, a couple of them decided to set up their widowed parents on a "blind date". Bob and Doreen were both devout Catholics, loved red wine, and shared a great sense of humor. The parents and the families were a perfect match.
The Boylan Family (Doreen along with her five children Greg, Jennice, Jennifer, Kevin and Bryan) and the Abrams Family (Bob and his children Maureen, Sharon and John) would become one family.
Tragically, during the Courtship, Doreen's son Kevin, who helped facilitate the blind date, passed away from complications following a serious car accident.
Doreen and Bob just celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary on April 30th. Doreen continues to say, both Bob and Doreen have been blessed with two wonderful marriages in one lifetime.
Bob will be remembered for his devout faith, kindness and fairness to others, even keel nature, keen sense of humor, and his love of family and friends.
Bob is survived by his loving and wonderful wife Doreen, his three children, Maureen, Sharon and John, and their spouses, Kevin Andrew, Greg Maffei and Lori Abrams; Doreen's four children whom Bob loved as his own, Greg, Jennice, Jennifer, Bryan, and their spouses, Dede Boylan, Steve Cerrina, Dan Drake and Traci Boylan; eighteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to be made to Hoffman Hospice, Friends of Mercy or Francis Youth Center.