Robert L. "Bob" Wiker

1919 - 2007

Robert L. "Bob" Wiker left this world to be welcomed into the loving arms of his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, on Jan. 17, 2007.

Bob was born on Jan. 3, 1919, in Arbuckle, Calif. He was the only child of Edgar Earle and Emily L. Wiker. He moved to Ventura in 1924 whe his father, Edgar, an attorney, was hired as secretary for the Ventura Chamber of Commerce. His father was killed in an auto accident at Thompson and Catalina when Bob was 13-years old. He graduated from Ventura High School in 1936 and attended Ventura College. His mother gave him $500 to either attend Cal Tech or star a business. He chose to begin his career in business by opening his own Gilmore Service Station on the corner of Thompson and Oak. he married Patricia Taylor, the love of his life, in 1938. During World War II, he was drafted, and served his country by repairing airplane engines in Lancaster, Calif. He began his insurance career by selling life insurance in the evening while in Lancaster. Upon returning to Ventura after the war, he worked for the Automobile Club of Southern California. Wiker became a partner of Tolman and Wiker Insurance brokerage firms in the United States, servicing primarily commercial accounts. Tolman and Wiker, partners and staff, now total more than 100 employee at the Ventura location.

Bob is past president of the Ventura Jr. Chamber of Commerce, the Ventura Downtown Lions Club, and Toastmasters. He was member of the Board of Directors and Benefactors of the Community Memorial Hospital. In 1952 he was awarded the "Outstanding Young Man of the Year" award from the Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1971, which was awarded for the exemplification of the Jaycee creed of brotherhood, free enterprise and service to humanity. He was very proud to be the founding Board Chairman of the Channel Islands State Bank in 1962, which later was acquired by Wells Fargo Bank.

Bob and Patricia traveled the world extensively and enjoyed their frequent weekend trips to Carmel, La Jolla and Newport. Friends were very important to Bob. Throughout the years the Wikers shared many happy times with their friends.

During the 1940s, he learned to fly and belonged to the Prop Buster flying club. The club owned a Piper Cub airplane that flew out of the Ventura air strip, which is now the location of the Ventura Keys.

Fishing has been his greatest hobby since he was in his teens. In order to go deep sea fishing with his family and friends, he founded the Poinsettia Boat Club in 1952, which continues today, in ownership of "El Ocho." He enjoyed weekly fishing trips to the Islands with family, friends, and business associates. He particularly loved teaching his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren the joys of fishing, and sharing the exhilaration of the sea.

He is a longtime member of the Ventura Missionary Church. He enjoyed and grew spiritually from his years in the men's Bible Study Fellowship in Ventura.

This generous, loving, and prominent business man is survived by his beloved wife of almost 69 years, Patricia; daughter, Carole Cole and husband Bob of Ventura; grandchildren, Richard Wiker Cole of Ventura, Michael Robert Cole and wife Cheryl and their children, David, Kalen Wiker, and Kelsey of Santa Margarita, and Patricia Sue Cowan and husband Jeff, and their unborn daughter, of Bothell, Wash. He was a fabulous husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his family and will be dearly missed.

Bob was always a perfect gentleman. He routinely put others before himself and offered to help family and friends in any way be could. His warm smile and bright eyes accompanied his fun sense of humor right to the end of his life. Family visited him in his few months always commented on how his face lit up when he saw them.

The family would like to thank Dr. Craig Mansour and the staff at Ventura Cardiology for their exceptional professional assistance and kindness, Raimonda, Asta, Grazina, Hasmik, and Juliya at Crestwood Villa, for their excellent and loving care, Pastor Leonard DeWitt for his frequent visits and spiritual guidance, espcially, during these past two years, the staff at ProCare Hospice for their tenderness during his last days, and Community Memorial Hospital for their fine medical assistance.

Contributions may be made in Bob's honor to Cottage Home of the Ventura Downtown Lion's Club, P.O. Box 25180, Ventura, CA 93001, or Going Foward Grief Support Ministry, c/o Ventura Baptist Church, 5415 Ralston, Ventura, CA 93003.

Visitation will be from 2 until 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22., at Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, 757 E. Main St., Ventura.

Burial will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23, with a memorial service following at 3:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church, 1338 East Santa Clara St., Ventura, with Rev. Charles Simmons and Rev. Leonard DeWitt officiating.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the family owned Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Chapel, 757 East Main St., Ventura; phone, 805-643-8623.