Robert Warren Bartholomew

1926 - 2009

Robert Warren Bartholomew, age 83, died on Thursday, April 16, 2009, after a lengthy illness. He was born on February 23, 1926, Portland, Oregon. His parents were Genevieve and Theron Bartholomew.
At an early age, Robert with his parents moved to Long Beach, CA. An earthquake hit Long Beach on March 10, 1933. His school was destroyed which meant going to class in a tent most of his years in grammar school.
At age 16 he left home and worked in a shipyard in the State of Washington; at 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Robert was a crewman on PBM-3 seaplane in the South Pacific Theater during WWII. After two years in the Navy, he returned to San Pedro, CA on a rehabilitation leave.
Robert married Betty Berglund, a former classmate. A wartime marriage, but it was a good, loving and lasting marriage until his wife's death of cancer in 1984.
After his four-year enlistment in the Navy, he was honorably discharged and worked as a field serviceman for North American Aviation, traveling to many Air Bases in the southern U.S. Later Robert worked for Richfield Oil as a Fluid Catalytic Cracking Operator.
In 1964, Robert and Betty, along with their son and twin daughters, left the crowded L.A. Basin and moved to the rural area of Acampo, CA, where the children raised 4H animals; a happy time for the entire family. Living in Northern California, Robert worked as a Youth Counselor for CYA. He enjoyed his job, retiring in 1984.
On November 30, 1985, he married Esther (Kludt) Heer.
Robert is survived by his wife, Esther; son, Robert A. Bartholomew of Boise, ID; daughters, Patti Heaps of Concord, and Peggy deReus of Willows; step-daughters, Jeanette Heer of Vallejo, and Judy Kinberg of Stockton; grandchildren: Katie Gonzales, Sara Resch, Ali Bartholomew, Jonathan and Anne Heaps, Joe and Leni deReus, Jana and Geoffrey Goins, Michael, Tim and Laura Kinberg, Darcey and Haley Allen; and great-granddaughter, Ciera Gonzales.
Robert's hobby was writing poems and short stories since 1978. He has published a poem book entitled "Seed" in 2002.
Robert was a very active member at St. Paul Lutheran Church, serving on many committees, also a deacon and enjoyed the Men's Breakfast Bible Study on Saturday mornings.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 701 S. Pleasant Avenue., Lodi, CA 95240; or the VA Northern California Health Care System, 150 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94533; or the donor's choice.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Neptune society of Northern CA-Stockton Branch.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Friday, April 24, at 10:30 a.m.