Robert H. “Bob” Sterling, 91, passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 at Sierra Vista Hospital in San Luis Obispo, CA.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2004 at the First Presbyterian Church in San Luis Obispo.
Bob and his twin sister; Ruth Sterling Wirshup, were born March 10, 1913 in Gresham, Oregon where they were raised and graduated from high school. Their parents were James H. and Gertrude (Conkle) Sterling.
After graduating from Oregon State University in 1935, Bob was employed by the Forest Service in Baker County, where he met and married Donna Holcomb from Richland. They were married for 68 years.
Beginning in 1936 Bob was employed as a County Extension Agent in various communities throughout Montana. Later he rejoined the Extension Service in Oregon where he was employed by Oregon State University for 21 years and also earned an MS in Agricultural Economics. Before moving to Baker in 1972 he also served as a County Extension Agent in Dallas and Redmond. Bob finished his career in Baker and retired from the University as a Professor Emeritus in 1975.
During World War II Bob joined the US Army in 1942 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1943. He was discharged from the service in 1946 after spending his last year as a Captain assigned to the Supreme Allied Command in Tokyo, Japan.Throughout his career. Bob was active in various farming and civic organizations. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge since 1938 and he became active in Toastmasters International starting in 1957. While living in Baker he was also active in the Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir.
After retiring. Bob and Donna moved to San Luis Obispo where they have lived for the past 29 years. He continued to be active in Toastmasters and represented the San Luis Obispo Long Distance Running Club while completing numerous marathons and other distance races. Bob also continued active in the San Luis Obispo First Presbyterian Church where he was a member of the Church Session and continued to sing in the choir.
He is survived by his wife; Donna, his son and daughter-in-law James W. and Helena Sterling in Walnut Creek, Calif. and by his daughter Jayne McClure of Santa Rosa, Calif.
Used with permission from: The Record Courier, Baker City, Oregon March, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor