WILLIAM ROBERT ETHERIDGE JR

1945 - 2023

Bob was born William Robert Etheridge, Jr., in San Diego, California, on February 22, 1945, and passed on February 5, 2023, from acute pancreatitis. He was a very proud American who served his country in the United States Navy. Upon Bob's honorable discharge from the military, he made his way to Alaska in 1964.

When he first arrived in Juneau, Bob commercial fished on his own boat in Southeast. He then began working for Alaska Coastal Airlines where he was a mechanic's assistant. After they merged with Alaska Airlines he held the positions of loadmaster, navigator, and right-seat on C130 cargo planes flying all over the world. In his spare time, he relished being a 4-H leader and helped to build Juneau's Fairweather Horse Stable. He was Facilities Manager at the University of Alaska Southeast for many years where he was charged with managing Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan campus Facilities and Security. After leaving the University, he very much enjoyed his position as a welder at T&S Welding before finally retiring full-time in 2004.

In 1989 Bob met and later married the love of his life, Marcia Collins, and treasured her children and grandchildren as his own. He was very proud to achieve two other life dreams. One was traveling around the U.S. in their RV. The second was purchasing a beachfront Shelter Island property and transforming it from an overgrown, neglected hunting cabin into a cozy home with a scenic water view.

Bob made friends everywhere and was well known for lending a helping hand, whether it was a stalled motorist or a friend in need. Bob liked to be busy and was an all-around handyman, carpenter, plumber, electrician, welder, and truly enjoyed puttering in his garage repairing things others often thought irreparable. His work ethic was inspiring, and he was never one to sit for long. After retirement he took great pleasure in lapidary, silversmithing, knapping stone, both creating and instructing in those areas. Bob was a great storyteller, listener, and adviser fitting the occasion. He always had coffee ready for anyone who stopped by and very much enjoyed swapping tall tales, mug in hand.

Bob's passing is deeply felt by his wife of 30+ years and their children Loni (Jodi) VanKirk, Lori King (Hayden Garrison), both of Juneau, and Melissa (Jake) Gaynor of Portland, OR. He also leaves nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
At Bob's request, there will be no service. His family can be reached at PO Box 210086, Auke Bay, AK, 99821.