Robert James Pearson's Obituary
Robert (Bob) James Pearson of Oregon City passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, October 30. He spent his last days surrounded by his loving partner and wife of nearly 50 years Arlene, both of his daughters, sons- in-law, and all of his grandchildren.
Bob was born to Stanley and Esther (Gillette) Pearson of Grangeville, ID on July 19, 1934. He was the second of four brothers and lived his entire childhood in Grangeville. After graduating from Grangeville High School in 1952, Bob attended the University of Idaho and learned how to play cards and drink beer. After a year, the University decided that he would be better served following other pursuits. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea following the Korean War. Finding the military life not to his liking, he returned to Idaho to serve in the National Guard and take a second crack at the University of Idaho. He graduated with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering and during this second stint in college he pursued his lifetime passion of aviation and completed his pilot's license. After college, he moved to Oregon to start his professional career and purchase his first airplane, a Taylorcraft. While living in Portland he met his lifetime partner and wife Arlene. They were married April 22, 1967 at St Paul's United Methodist Church in Milwaukie, OR. Bob sold the Taylorcraft shortly after their marriage. Bob spent the bulk of his professional career working as a mechanical and computer engineer with Blount Industries (formerly Omark Industries) working there for 32 years before retiring in 1998. He enjoyed his work immensely and always felt he was being paid to pursue one of his hobbies.
Bob was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather first and foremost, and was blessed with two loving daughters and five grandchildren. However, music and flying were his other passions. Throughout much of his adult life he was an accomplished private pilot and flight instructor. In the late 1980's Bob bought his second airplane, a Cessna Skylane, which he enjoyed for many years. In 1995 disaster struck when the FAA decided Bob's heart did not beat regularly enough to satisfy them. The Cessna was sold and Bob was downright miserable until his family convinced him that if he couldn't fly the real thing he should try flying RC models instead. This ignited a new passion and kept him from moping around the house all the time. To the detriment of his children's inheritance and great pleasure to himself, Bob invested countless hours and funds to this new found hobby. He continued to build, fly and compete with RC model aircraft for the remainder of his life.
Bob was also an accomplished singer and musician. He performed in church choirs nearly his entire life. Once retired, he began to get serious about music, singing, and his voice lessons. He performed with the Canby Pitchpipers Barbershop Chorus for most of his retired life. To prove that you are only as old as you feel, in his late 70s he decided to give college another try and auditioned for the Clackamas Community College Choir, practicing and performing with college students a quarter his age.
Bob was a lifelong member of United Methodist Church and attended Carus UMC for over 40 years, where he was a fixture in the choir, served on numerous committees and, to his family's chagrin, sometimes slept in the pew. He believed in the importance of reading and learning and spent his whole life learning as much as he could about science, history and the word around him. He also relished the opportunity to spin a yarn and enjoyed nothing more than to tell his grandchildren stories of growing up in Grangeville, his many adventures working in the woods around Grangeville, in the Army and college, or educating them about science, airplanes or aviation history.
Bob enjoyed every minute he spent with Arlene and she was the great love of his life. After meeting on a blind date at a Harry Belafonte concert, they went to as many of his concerts as they could. As empty-nesters, they took up square dancing and joined the River City Dancers. They enjoyed regular dances with their club and traveling to square dance conventions. He also delighted in traveling the world with family, and camping with Arlene and the grandchildren.
Bob was always open to new friendships and joined the Masonic Order late in life. He served the Mollala Lodge 178 with distinction as Lodge Secretary and was named an Honorary Past Master.
Bob is survived by his wife Arlene, daughters Jennifer Pearson-Gale (husband William Gale), and Patricia Pearson (husband Kinley Deller), grandchildren Kieran, Celia and Joshua Gale and Nara and Ameena Deller, brothers Stanley, Burton, and John, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins and his loyal sidekick Oscar (Welsh Terrier).
A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday November 19, 2016 at Carus United Methodist Church with Rev. Rand Sargent officiating. A gathering for friends and family will be held after the service at the Forest Creek Park Lodge, 21065 S. Mossy Rock Ct. Oregon City.
Memorial contributions may be made to either Carus United Methodist Church at 22765 S. Hwy. 213, Oregon City, OR 97045 or the Molalla Masonic Lodge 178 at P.O. Box 86 Molalla, OR 97038.
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