Robert W Gorham

Robert (Bob) Wendell Gorham of Tacoma, WA went to be with the Lord on April 22, 2024, in Federal Way, WA after a lifetime of faithful service. Bob was known for his kindness, gentle spirit, his wry sense of humor, and his dedication. He was 81.
He was born on April 16, 1943, in Long Beach, CA to Robert and Velma Gorham, the youngest of two. He grew up in Monrovia, CA until he was 12 when the family moved to Springville, CA where he met his future wife, Mary. In 1957, the family moved to Atascadero, CA where he graduated from Atascadero Union High School in 1961. He was a gifted clarinetist and student director in high school, where he decided he wanted to become a band teacher. His band teacher wrote that he was the best student director he ever had. Bob was also a gifted runner and ran track and field as well.
Bob then attended Seattle Pacific, graduating with a bachelor's in 1965. He then received his master's in music from UCLA in 1967. On June 18, 1966, he married Mary Powell, his childhood sweetheart in Lompoc, CA, and then lived in La Mirada, CA while they both finished schooling. They later moved to Tacoma, WA where Bob began a teaching career with the school district, teaching for many years in the east end at McIlveigh and Gault Middle Schools and then later at Meeker Middle School. In 1997, he retired from Tacoma Schools after 30 years. Bob then became the head of the band program at Life Christian School & Academy in Tacoma, teaching fifth through twelfth grade for 12 years. In 2009, he retired from teaching after 42 years of service. Generations of students fondly remember him and would greet him when they saw him. One of his great joys was to see one of his former students succeed him as the band teacher at Life Christian and he would continue to volunteer with the program and act as a mentor.
Bob was also active at his church, First Presbyterian, Tacoma, where he led the youth handbell program for decades before handing off the ministry to a former ringer in 2011. For many years, he was also the dean of the middle school camp every summer at Camp McCullough in Covington, WA, a ministry of First Presbyterian. Later, he sang baritone in the church choir.
Bob and his wife, Mary, had three children: Nathan (1968), Stephanie (1970), and Stephen (1982), all born in Tacoma. They both played piano and loved playing duets together. He passed on his love of music to his children and grandchildren. They were married for 43 years before her passing in 2009. Bob lived in the same house in Tacoma's north end for over 50 years and loved working around the house and taking loving care of it. He fought Parkinson's for fifteen years.
President Abraham Lincoln once wrote that "it's not a matter of the years of your life but the life in your years." This speaks true of Bob. Husband. Father. Grandfather. Brother. Friend. Teacher. Mentor. A true gentleman who touched the lives of so many and was beloved by all who knew him.
Bob is predeceased by a sister who was stillborn Barbara Ann, his parents, and his wife, Mary. He is survived by his older sister, Donna Lee Jacobson, his three children Nathan Gorham (Jennifer) of Puyallup, Stephanie Wright (Steven) of Auburn, and Stephen Gorham (Claire) of Tacoma, along with five grandchildren Ethan (20), Garret (19), Levi (13), Micah (11), and Josiah (2) and several nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Bob was a good and faithful servant of the Lord who truly left the world a better, gentler, and brighter place. May his memory be eternal.
A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Tacoma on Saturday, May 18 at 2PM. In lieu of flowers, you can donate to the handbell choir ministry at First Presbyterian Church, Tacoma or to Missionary Aviation Fellowship, one of his favorite charities. You may also donate to Parkinson's research if you wish.
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