Bob Sloan

Bob Sloan

Bob Sloan, July 10, 1936 – February 10, 2022

Bob was born Walter Robert Kay in Houston, Texas on July 10, 1936 to Samuel and Helen Kay. He changed his name officially, upon entering the Air Force. He served at Elmendorf Airforce Base, where he received an honorable discharge and medal for good conduct. He spent some time working as a code breaker, and was irked that he never saw the battlefield.

Bob died doing two of his favorite things: looking for gold, and ignoring the advice of the womenfolk. He was preceded in death by his parents, both, natural and step, as well as his brothers, Lynn Kay and David Sloan, and David’s wife, Mary; his sister, Bonnie Turner; his son, Sean Sloan; his son-in-law, Alan Butts; and his grandsons, Michael Mumphry and Damon Sloan. He is survived by his lovely wife, Margaret; three daughters, Letha, Roberta and Arletta; ex-daughter-in-law Diana Sloan; grandchildren, Andrew, Tiffany, Braden, Jason, Erica, Morgan, Jordan, Kendra and Mitchell; sister, Lyndell; brother-in-law, Charles; many great-grandchildren, other in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

After meeting the great love of his life, Margaret, they were married on September 16, 1959. Soon, they brought their first child, Letha, into the world. In 1964, along with their slightly larger family, now including Roberta and Sean, they braved the treacherous Al-Can Highway, and settled in avalanche territory, outside of Palmer, where they welcomed their last child, Arletta.

Bob began his working career early, on various farms. He dropped out of high school to help support his family, later finishing high school at age 34, By doing so, he became the first graduate from the Skill Center in Seward. Despite his late start, educationally speaking, he went on to get several college degrees, stopping just short of a doctorate. He continued to educate himself on every subject that interested him, for the rest of his days.

Bob never shied away from hard work, some of the jobs he held were: roofer; butcher; postal worker; Correctional Officer; Pipeline security guard; activity therapist, and volunteer for the Mammoth Historical Society; as well as Councilman and Police Commissioner for the Town of Mammoth, Arizona.

For his work in the mental health field, he received a Certificate of Appreciation on December 7, 1998 “for going that extra mile to help the youth in the Hope Community Resources, Inc. Children’s Mental Health Program”.

He was famous for his fruitcakes, and pecan pies, commonly known as “Pecan Crack”. He is, also, remembered, fondly, by his daughter-in-law Diana, for a homemade chocolate cake. He, often, provided food or labor to others in need, despite the fact that he was, also, poor, and had to do the same work for his own family. Even in his late 80’s, he drove friends to appointments. Finally, at 85 years of age, he said, “No, I am just tired. I think I’ll give up working and retire,” when he was asked if he would run for Councilman and Police Commissioner, once again.

For fun, he competed in the senior division of powerlifting; and enjoyed gold mining with his friend, Dit Werner, in AK and Canada. He was still gold-mining at age 85, in Arizona.

Bob had a quirky sense of humor, and was known to play practical jokes, and scare the bejeebers out of his friends and progeny. But, at the same time, faced down a bear with nothing but an axe for defense when it was in the same berry patch as his children were.

Bob has been cremated, which means he did not get to fulfill his lifelong goal of being left in the woods for the wolves and bears to eat; being wrapped in saran wrap and left at the dump; or living in a van down by the river, where he would expel his last breath while rolling himself into it. Still, he died doing what he wanted to do. His Alaskan family and friends will meet together, sometime in May to say goodbye for the last time. If you wish to join them, please contact a family member. We would love to have you share a written or typed “Bob” story, so that it can be placed in a memorial book for his family, or if you prefer, there is a memorial Facebook page “In Memory of Maximum Bob”. It is a private group, but you can make a request to join.