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Robert Watrous Obituary
March 16, 1937 - July 11, 2021
Richland, Washington - After his year long struggle with cancer, Bob Watrous passed peacefully on Sunday, July 11, with his wife and sister beside him. Born in Portland, OR, Bob loved all things science and math-related and was passionate about music and theater.
Graduating from OSU with a degree in chemical engineering, he moved to Richland to begin work converting efforts from wartime to peacetime production at the Hanford site. GE, Lockheed Martin, Exxon, ARCO, CH2MHill contractors came and went. Bob stayed and later worked on safe disposal/storage of nuclear waste. While this work gave him meaning, instrumental or choral music and theater brought him joy. He sang faithfully in the Bach Choral festivals, Columbia Chorale, Consort Columbia, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, and Shalom UCC choir until he could no longer attend.
Onstage roles with Richland Players, RLOC/MCMT, CBC and JB productions were happy adventures. His set designs and constructions for Richland Players and Washington East Opera were elegant and joyful challenges. Bob received the Lifetime Achievement Award from MCMT and a similar award bears his name at Richland Players, where he was the first recipient.
A recurring joy was counseling and then directing for 19 years, UCC youth camps on Lake Coeur d'Alene at N-SID-SEN. Each year, Bob created skits, radio, and puppet shows to bring to life scriptures for the day and themes for each week. He loved creating doable crafts and science experiments to demonstrate to campers how we can be good stewards of planet Earth.
We are thankful to many: Cathy and Mike McElroy for daily calls and support, Micah Shepard for frequent check-ins, Shalom UCC and Players friends, Dr. Brian Lawenda and his radiology team, OHSU surgeons and staff, Heart Links paliative and hospice care, loved ones here and there, too many to name. Thank you each and every one
Bob leaves behind his wife, Libby, sister Jane Romig, sons Mark and Joel Watrous, daughter-in-law Jaime Bryan, and grandchild Leona Watrous. His life has been a blessing.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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