Robert J "Bobby Joe" Sain

1939 - 2017

Robert J. Sain 'Bobby Joe,' or 'the mailman' as many referred to him, was born on May 27, 1939 and entered into eternal rest on January 24, 2017. He is survived byStarla his wife of 55 years, his brother Richard,his children Joey, Brenda, Angela, their spouses (Liana, Bobby, Donnie), and his 'adopted' daughter Lois, his five grandchildren (Joe, Chris, Jaci, Timmy, Jara) and his 'adopted' granddaughter Stephanie, his great grandchildren (Logan, Danyka, Alyssa, J.T.), and so very many loved ones. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert "Lefty" Sain and Regina "Pat" Sain, and his younger brother John.

Bobby Joe graduated from Palo Verde High School in 1957 and joined the U.S. Army becoming a paratrooper with an honorable discharge in 1960. He enjoyed his retirement from a 32-year career with the U.S. Postal Service. His part time jobs included the melon packing shed, Mobil gas station where Starbucks is now located, worked security at the Wiley's Well equipment yard during construction of Interstate 10, and as a clerk at Buy Rite Market now known as EZ Mart West. He volunteered at Blythe Fire Department for many years, with Fourth of July fireworks being a favorite. He loved football, was involved with youth sports programs, a pioneer for Blythe Junior High tackle league and chief of umpires for Blythe Little League. He loved to fish the Colorado River and any mountain lake or stream where he could cast a line. Part of his retirement included his retreat to his garage where he built, flew (and crashed) remote control airplanes and became an expert at tuning very small, two-stroke plane engines. He helped the Scott family at Rancho Elbow Grease where he created a dove and quail hunting paradise for his grandchildren and also worked the peach, pomegranate and asparagus harvest.

Selling their life-long home in 2005, he and Starla relocated to Quartzsite, Arizona and hit the snowbird trail traveling across the country enjoying the sights. They spent many summers in Idaho and Montana where he did custom hay harvesting in the Bitterroot Valley. His greatest passion was time spent with family and keeping close ties with his grandchildren. He had a zeal for life and a heart for helping anyone he could. His final words to those he left behind were "I love you" and "take care of your mom (grandma)."We love you too honey, dad, grandpa, grampy, brother, uncle, cousin, friend.

Services at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church will be held Monday, January 30, 2017, 5:00 p.m., with a rosary following at 7:00 p.m., and the funeral mass is Tuesday, January 31, 10:00 a.m., followed by a graveside service at Palo Verde Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if possible, Starla and family ask that donationsbe made to Blythe Cancer Resource Center.