Robert A. Keith (Bob) was born on January 10, 1944 in Tacoma, WA and passed away on September 26, 2018 at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah, WA. After graduating from Mt. Tahoma High School Bob joined the US Air Force for four years, serving in Hawaii and the Philippines.
He received training on the early mainframe computers in 1962. He also began work on his goal of earning a college degree. At the same time he began his love of overseas travel, visiting several countries in Asia.
After his discharge, he moved to the Bay Area and worked in the computer department of Stanford University. He was very happy there and was also able to make his first extended trip to Europe. Seeking a warmer and sunny climate Bob moved to San Diego, attending UCSD and San Diego State University to study geography.
While at SDSU, Bob met Susie and they married three months after their first date. They were blessed with 48 years together. After receiving his BA in geography, Bob did environmental work with the California State Coastal Zone Management Commission and wrote part of the coastal land use plan for San Diego County.
When Susie began graduate school they moved to Honolulu, Hawaii for four years, really enjoying their time there. They then moved to the Northwest and bought a home in Sammamish, WA. Bob returned to computer work at Holland America, the University of Washington, Puget Power, Boeing – where he worked on super computers, and Safeco/Liberty Mutual.
Together, Bob and Susie traveled to six of the seven continents and also made a circle tour of several Pacific Islands. They also enjoyed traveling in the US and Bob was especially fond of Yellowstone National Park. Favorites for them both were the island of Moorea, England and especially Israel.
Those memories sustained Bob during his illness. Bob loved animals and together they adopted nine rescued dogs over the years. He enjoyed hiking, long walks, recycling, working in the yard and gathering firewood.
He also returned to his hobby of stamp collecting and was a member of the Washington State Philatelic Society. Bob was a happy Lutheran and was a well- loved member of the community at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Seattle. He loved worship and being involved with their social service programs.
Bob was well loved, liked and respected for his quiet, gentle and caring ways. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, church members, animals and so many others whose lives he touched. Donations could be made to the Seattle Humane Society, the Fund for Animals or the Yellowstone Forever organization.
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