Robert "Bob" Fifield Jr.

ROBERT "BOB" FIFIELD, JR. Bob passed away peacefully on Father's Day morning, June 16th, 2013 after a 14 year battle with interstitial lung disease. Bob was born in El Centro, CA, November 1, 1941 to Robert W. Fifield, Sr. and Ruth Valentine Jones Fifield. He was raised in Deaver, WY and Holtville, CA before moving back to El Centro when he was in Junior High School. He graduated from Central Union High School in 1959. He was the first student body president and a graduate of the Imperial Valley College District and a graduate of the University of Arizona in 1965. Bob and Janice Shindlebower Fortier married in 1964. They have two sons, Robert W. Fifield, III (Michelle) of Charleston, SC and Wesley Mitchell Fifield (Stacey Loeffel), Upland, CA and two wonderful grandchildren who were the apple of his eye; Miranda Adele Fifield, 17 and Nicholas Emery Fifield, 16. Scouting was a very important part of Bob's life. After earning his Eagle Scout, he and a fellow Eagle Scouts hitched a team of mules to a covered wagon setting off from Flagstaff, AZ and finishing at the Boy Scout Jamboree in Colorado Springs, CO. He was involved in Scouting throughout his life and encouraged his sons to follow in his path. Both achieved Eagle Scout and his grandson is well on his way. His granddaughter will soon earn her Gold award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. Bob worked 20 years for Exxon as a district sales representative. In 1986, he fulfilled a life long dream of owning his own business. He purchased and operated Hemet Panorama Products until he retired in 2009. Bob moved his family to the Hemet Valley in 1975. From the day he moved to Hemet until the day he passed, he both loved and was heavily involved in the valley. During his first year living in Hemet, Bob started the local AYSO soccer program serving as the Regional Commissioner for the first three years. After seeing a need for an additional Boy Scout troop in the valley, he started Troop #333 at the Presbyterian Church. He served as Scoutmaster for 5 years, receiving the Three Peaks District Award of Merit and the Scouting Family of the Year in 1980 and shepherding numerous scouts to their Eagle Badge. Climbing Mt. Whitney and hiking the Grand Canyon with the Troop were two of his favorite outings. Bob was one of the founding members of the Sunrise Rotary Club, served as its second president and became a Paul Harris Fellow. He enjoyed his many trips to Mexico bringing donated supplies to a disadvantaged elementary school and establishing their library. His involvement in the community also included being a longtime member of the Chamber of Commerce, serving on many committees. Bob was involved in numerous other activities in the Valley, helping Jan with her community organizations, working closely with the Hemet High School's academic decathlon team and sponsoring numerous youth athletic teams. Bob loved to play bridge with Jan and their bridge "Buddies". He enjoyed not only playing bridge with these good friends but looked forward to the numerous outings throughout Southern California. His famous "Eggs Benedict" Christmas celebration, preparing and serving eggs benedict for 30 of Jan's bridge playing friends, was always a highlight of the year. He also relished being able to sit and play bridge with his sons and grandchildren. Bob was an avid Angel's fan and was a season ticket holder since the 1970's. The highlight of his life was attending, with his son, Wes, all the Angel's home play-off and World Series games during the 2002 Championship year. In 1997, Bob announced he was going to run the L.A. Marathon. Since he was not the most athletic type Jan and the boys were skeptical but he completed the marathon in 1998. Bob's passion for the Ramona Pageant started with his first involvement in 1976 as a Boy Scout leader. He became a Supervisor and eventually a Board Member. Upon his retirement he worked tirelessly with other members to re-establish the bowl as the focal point of the community. His absolute love of the bowl, his family and his friends will live on. Bob is survived by his wife Jan; his sons Rob and Wes; his granddaughter Miranda and grandson Nick; his brother Ralph (Dale) Fifield; nephew Ron (Stacy) of Indio, CA and niece Sandi of Culver City, CA. His Celebration of Life will be held at 6:00 p.m., June 28th at the Ramona Bowl, 27400 Ramona Bowl Road, Hemet, CA 92544. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the Ramona Bowl Amphitheater - Bob Fifield Fund at the above address.