Robert Miller Stiles

Robert Miller Stiles

Bob Stiles, positive to the very end, reluctantly left us on the evening of December 10, 2023, released from the intense suffering he endured battling cancer for four months.

Bob Stiles, INTP, fanatical cyclist, guitarist, banjo player, singer, storyteller, teacher, intellect, creative, computer enthusiast, wordsmith, generator of nutty puns, and collector, Bob was a self-made, do-it-yourself, individualistic kind of guy, who found pride in working on his bike or car. He enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together, often not caring to use instructions, but to "figure it out for himself," which sometimes led to breaking things, replacing parts, starting over, and/or jerry-rigging something to work again. He had a determination to work through the process, even amongst great frustration.

Bob had such an obsession with bicycles, one might have thought he'd die cycling. His love started as a boy when he got his first Schwinn. He grew up to be an avid cyclist, track-raced in college, and for some time worked in bike repair. Bob had a passion for putting together his own bikes from scratch, using all vintage parts, and frames he painted himself. He immersed himself in a community of like-minded cycling enthusiasts, rode his bike to work most days, toured the entire Sonoma County and many parts of the West Coast on his own two wheels. Cycling stories amounted, including a day he arrived home and went straight to the bathroom to remove a big beetle that had flown into his eye. Bob also accumulated a bike and bike parts collection.

Bob had a great love for singing and telling stories with his guitar or banjo. Influenced by Appalachian and Irish Folk music, Blues, and the like, he'd learn to sing his favorite tunes, chords and fingerings on the guitar, or fine-tune his fingerpicking on clawhammer banjo. During his early years of college he sang bass in the choir and performed the role of the Mikado. Bob's love of music led to a massive vinyl, cassette tape, and CD collection, much of which lingered around even after it went to computer chip. There was always music in the house from dawn to dusk, everything from folk music to Bach Cantatas. Bob also ventured into making his own recordings, first by making his own "recording studio" by hanging a blanket to block off the dining room where he recorded magnetic reel-to-reel tapes of himself singing and playing guitar or banjo, and much later evolved to recording to multi-track computer software, adding harmonica. Bob also collected many guitars and banjos, among other instruments, and his final years included some experimental lutherie.

Bob was also a car enthusiast, always working on his own vehicles. After owning a number of Volkswagons, his final and favorite was the Karmann Ghia. This was in light of wishing for a "Bathtub." Eventually his dream did come true to own a Porsche, proudly mounted with a license plate that said "Radfahrer."

"Mr. Stiles" taught for over 30 years at the Rincon Valley Elementary School district, starting at Whited, moving to Madrone, and then stayed with Village Elementary for many, many, years. Mr. Stiles' last chapter was with Austin Creek Elementary before retirement. Everyday Mr. Stiles rode his bike to school, taught all day, then rode home to take a nap, have a cup of coffee, and grade papers. While the endeavor was sometimes tiring, he really found teaching to be meaningful, fulfilling, and fun. His favorite part was interacting with students.

Bob is survived by his eldest daughter Sarah Stiles; daughter Clover Stiles, son-in-law Dustin, and grandson Zackary Stiles; son Nicholas Stiles and grandsons Ace and Nicholas Stiles; older brother Gary Stiles, niece Kristin and her daughters, and nephews Mark and Greg. Bob was preceded in death by his parents Nyle Stiles and Helen Miller Stiles.

A Celebration of Life to memorialize Bob will be held on Saturday April 6, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Christ Methodist Church, 1717 Yulupa Ave. in Santa Rosa, CA.