Robert Frederick Henwood

1924 - 2017

Robert Frederick ‘Bob' Henwood May 7, 1924 - March 11, 2017 SAN DIEGO - Robert Frederick Henwood was born May 7, 1924 to Frederick John Henwood, a professional golfer and Annie Elizabeth Warner Henwood, English baker extraordinaire. Bob loved to work, explore, and study, and his lifelong curiosity and determination earned Bob the honor of Salutatorian of the 1942 graduating class of Highline High School in Seahurst, Washington. As luck would have it, World War II broke out during Bob's senior year of high school, so rather than enroll at a university he joined the U.S. Navy and earned two bronze stars at the Battle for Leyte Gulf. He worked himself up though the ranks and eventually retired at the highest level, Master Chief ETCM. While stationed in Japan, Bob spent many hours hiking through the countryside, exploring beaches, bicycling along the back roads, and along the way met the love of his life Emi Maeda. They raised their family on and near U.S. Navy bases that lined the Pacific, and this past year celebrated 63 years of marriage. After 30 years with the Navy, Bob retired only to head right back to the Navy through Civil Service. It was during this time he earned his college degree and made life long friends at Naval Sea Support Center, Pacific, including his best friend Sam Wilhelm. After 18 years with NavSeaCenPac, Bob decided it was time for another life chapter but retirement was just a woed for Bob- he just loved working, exploring, and studying too much. He and Emi traveled to Japan and around the United States exploring lighthouses, railroads, the Oregon Trail, and following the travels of Lewis and Clark. Many of Bob's summers found him in the eastern Sierras fishing and hiking with his grandchildren. Whenever family needed advice or help, Bob saw it as an opportunity and without hesitation was in his truck and ready to go. Bob was a self-taught woodworker, and many family and friends' homes are graced with his handcrafted lamps and furniture. He loved to work in his yard where he spent many hours past sunset working to make his garden "just so". For his Emi, Bob used his talents to build a Japanese room and a Japanese garden. When life started to slow him down, Bob was determined not to slow down. Instead, he read more novels, studied more history, and studied more cultures, then watched more western films. No contestant could win at Jeopardy like Bob. At 92 years of age, Bob passed away peacefully with his family and caregivers by his side. The world lost a good man. Robert F. Henwood will be laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery on Friday May 12. He is survived by his beloved Emi, daughters Rose Marie Hughes and Ellen Mary Clark (James), son William Frederick Henwood (Kathleen), grandsons Michael Daniel Hughes (Shanen), Jared James Clark (Kristin), Evan Robert Clark, and Jack Henwood, and his "favorite granddaughter" Rachelle Rose Clark. Bob was very proud of his five great-grandchildren, and he loved and appreciated all of his dear caregivers. Donations in Bob's honor can be made to your favorite charity- or to his: the World Wildlife Fund, the National Geographic Society, and of course the U.S. Navy.