Robert Wallen Ayers

Robert "Bob" Ayers, 78, passed away peacefully and went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at Roo Lan Healthcare Center. Born on May 23, 1928 in Portsmouth, Ohio, Bob was the son of Wesley Dallas and Thelma (Mohr) Ayers. He attended Columbus High School and was the first male in his family to complete a high school education. He was an exceptional student and never gave up his thirst for knowledge. He was a voracious reader and retained everything he read. People who knew him always marveled at his broad knowledge base. While attending high school, he worked at the Curtiss Wright plant in Columbus, where he installed rubberized fuel tanks into Curtiss P-40 Warhawks. He joined the United States Navy in 1946 and was one of the "Buckeye Boys of Company 140". While stationed in San Diego, he served aboard the U.S.S. Essex, and later was stationed in Bremerton, Washington. On February 7, 1948, he married Geraldine Moon of Tacoma, Washington. They made their home in Tacoma, and for two years he worked as a brakeman for the Pacific Northern Railroad. Bob then began a career in the electrical power industry with Tacoma City Light as a meter reader. Bob and Gerry's four children were born in Tacoma and lived in the Oakland District until 1962, when Bob moved his family to Olympia, Washington near Black Lake to begin working for the Bonneville Power Administration. From 1978 to 1983, Bob was elected the I.B.E.W. Local #125 Business Manager in Portland, Oregon. In 1980, Bob was invited to the White House, along with other business managers, to personally meet President Jimmy Carter and his senior advisors and to participate in a Foreign and Domestic Affairs conference. In 1978, Bob's wife, Gerry, passed away, and, in 1979, Bob married Roberta W. Rechtenwald of Portland, Oregon. Bob retired in 1989 and moved back to the Olympia/Lacey area. Bob was preceded in death by Roberta in 2002. During his retirement, he loved to golf, read, garden, spend time with friends and family, play cribbage, refinish furniture, and visit the V.F.W. Bob also spent a few years delivering Meals on Wheels with his wife, Roberta. He is survived by his four children, Bill (Carol), of Spokane, Washington, Greg, of Lacey, Steve (Dori), of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Carolyn (Bob) Hawkey, of Olympia; grandchildren, Brett (Tina), Scott (Lily), Lee (Kara), Rosalie, Maree, Bryan, Hilary (Joe), Tom, Andrew, Emily, and Rob; two great-granddaughters, Georgia and Charlotte; and two nieces, Dianna (Jerry) Huntington, of Renton, Washington, and Linda (Jerry) Sistrunk, of Warner Robbins, Georgia, and their families. Bob was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Lou (Mickey) Rees, of Renton. His family wishes to extend heartfelt and deep gratitude to the staff and volunteers of Roo Lan Healthcare Center for their time and attention during these last six months -- especially at the end of our father's life -- and to Nancy Williams and Renee Suberi, the caretakers who made his life at home a delightful place. A very special "thank you" goes to Debbie Iverson, who sang hymns of praise over our father during his final moments in this life. We'll never be able to repay all these individuals for their loving participation in our father's life. A memorial service will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 5930 Mullen Road S.E., Lacey, Washington, on Saturday, April 21, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Messages for the family can be left at: www.woodlawnfh.net