Robert Iii

Robert “Bob” West passed away Thursday, August 17, 2017. He is survived by his wife Judy, his sister (Ruth), two children (Allison and Rob), two stepchildren (Kelly and Steven), and 11 grandchildren. He was 64 years old.

Bob loved his family. Bob’s own father passed away at the age of 43, when Bob was only 7 years old. Because of this, he lived his life to the fullest each day, always wanting to make sure nothing was left undone or unsaid. His goal was to live long enough to see his kids grow into adulthood, then to meet their spouses, then to meet his grandkids, and finally to enjoy his grandkids as long as he could. He continued to move the goal post, always looking forward to achieving the next goal.

Bob had an amazing gift that allowed him to not only touch the lives of countless people, but also to inspire, motivate, and guide them through the triumphs and sorrows of life. Those fortunate individuals include his family, friends, martial arts partners and students, clients and associates, and random people he met along the way. He cared about people, and he never met a stranger. His greatest joy in life was lifting people’s spirits. The lower you were, the higher he lifted you up. Even people who barely knew him recalled the positive impact he made on their lives decades later.

Bob squeezed as much life as he could out of every single day, always living as though he were on borrowed time. He enjoyed most of what life has to offer, above and below sea level, spending as much time outdoors as he could. He enjoyed sky diving, scuba diving, hunting, fishing, and everything else he could find. To Bob, the outdoors is where he felt closest to God, believing that he was honoring God by enjoying all that He put on this Earth for us to enjoy.

Bob believed life was simple. You work hard, you play hard, and you try to have fun while doing both. He believed in teaching a man to fish rather than giving him one. He always did what he felt was right, honest, and fair, and he expected others to do the same. He stayed true to his heart.

The world is a richer place because of Bob. We will forever celebrate his strength, wisdom, and spirit.