Robert Orman Croskey

Robert Orman Croskey:

Bob was born on August 12, 1921 in Parkville, Missouri to Gilbert and Annie (Moore) Croskey.  He passed away in the early morning of May 14, 2016 in Sunnyside WA.

When Bob was very young, his parents moved onto a small farm between Kansas City and the Missouri River.  There Bob was raised with a younger sister and brother; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.  He often recounted hard work on the farm; fishing and trapping along the creek and antics in the one room school house that his grandfather Moore built.  Bob’s parents had a space at the Kansas City Market and each Friday was “Market Day”.  The pickup was loaded down with the fruits of daily labor including eggs, butter, vegetables in season; chickens, ducks and geese; fresh butchered hogs; turkeys prior to Thanksgiving, and even homemade molasses.  The value of rich, home cooked meals bound the family together and extended through the generations.  

Bob attended Tarkio College in northern Missouri and graduated with a BA in commerce in 1943.  In his junior year at Tarkio, he enlisted in a V-7 Navy officer’s training program.  After college, he qualified for midshipmen training at Columbia University in New York.  After four months training at Columbia, Bob came home briefly to marry Geraldine Ruth Evers on October 26, 1943.  He then left his bride behind to report to Norfolk, VA where he was assigned to the LCI [G (gunboat)] 452 and was immediately sent to the Pacific.  Bob served as Commissary and Communications officer and later as Executive and Commanding Officer.  He participated in campaigns in the Marshal Islands, the Marianas (Saipan), the capture of Tinian, capture of the southern Palau Islands, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto.  Okinawa was secured in June of 1945.  Bob was discharged from active duty in February 1946 but remained in the Navy Reserve.  He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and was given command of the LSM 316 (landing ship medium).  During this tour of duty, he spent time in Japan, and transporting materials between Oakland and San Diego.  After the Korean War, Bob remained in the Naval Reserve until he resigned in April 1954 because of family obligations.

Bob met his wife to be, Geraldine Ruth Evers, at a street dance in Parkville, Mo. where she was attending college.  They were married on October 26, 1943 in Carroll, Iowa.  After WWII, Bob moved to Portland, Oregon to join Ruth who had moved there from Iowa with her parents.  Together Bob and Ruth had four children; two boys and two girls.  During the Korean War, Bob and Ruth lived for a time in San Diego.  In 1954 they bought an 80 acre farm in Clark County, Washington, on Finn Hill, where they resided for 46 years.  The farm was in the foothills of the cascades, facing to the west and the sight of green and blue rolling hills, forests, pastures and streams.  This piece of land allowed Bob to return to his agrarian roots.  He tried a variety of pursuits including raising Black Angus cattle, some horses, gardening and growing hay.  In the end, he grew hay and did commercial cutting and bailing for his neighbors.  Bob was always a bit hyperactive and mixed his paid occupation with working on his place, building a house, two barns, and hunting and fishing in the time in between. He bought a fishing boat as soon as he could afford it.  He was an early riser and often worked until well after dark.  He consistently enjoyed bacon and eggs for breakfast and coffee and pie at 10:00 AM.  At supper, he provided his family with authoritative lectures on the way things are and the way they should be.  He served on the Hockinson school board for seventeen years.  He was a good citizen and voted in every election.  He was a very reliable and stable parent and sent each of his children off to college.

During his professional career, Bob first tried teaching high school.  His Navy officer demeanor did not work well there so he moved into financial occupations.  He worked for, GMAC, G.E. Capital, Borg Warner, the Camas Paper Mill, and International Paper.  In general, it might be said that Bob found it difficult to persist with desk jobs.  Finally he joined the WA State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and this proved to be a good match for this outdoorsman.  Bob served as a fire warden, surveyor, tree planter, and fire fighter.  He retired from the DNR after 17 years.  After retirement, Bob revived a sport he enjoyed as a child; trapping.  He joined the WA State Trapper’s Association and later did nuisance trapping for the State. 

In 1999, due to Ruth’s failing health, Bob and Ruth moved to Outlook to be close to their daughter Melissa.  He continued to garden, and fish until his health and mobility began to fail. 

Bob is survived by one sister, Beth Ann Bassein, of Colorado Springs, Colo.  Two sons, Robert M. Croskey of Allentown, Pa. and John Croskey and wife Judy, of Albion, WA. Two daughters, Melissa Walsh and husband Pat of Outlook, and Betsy Anderson and husband Michael of Redwood City, Ca.  Bob has six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth and brother Richard Croskey.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Mount Adam’s Kidney Dialysis Center and Dr. Licht, MD, for their consistent thoughtfulness and good humor, and in addition, the owners and staff at Just Like Home in Sunnyside, for giving Bob a comfortable, safe place to call home in his last years.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM at Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside, WA. with a graveside service to follow at 11:00 AM at Zillah Cemetery, Zillah, WA.  Those wishing to sign Robert’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Homes, Sunnyside, WA. in care of arrangements.

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