Robert “Bob” Riley Gindling

Wasilla resident Robert “Bob” Riley Gindling, 85, died June 24, 2011, due to natural causes, peacefully surrounded by his loving wife, caregivers, family and friends.

No services will be held. He will be buried at Fort Richardson National Cemetery with full military honors at 3 p.m., July 1.

Robert was born at home to Henry and Blanche (Stover) Gindling in Indianapolis, Ind., one of five children.

Bob and his wife of 60 years, Joann (Ruggier) Gindling, moved to Wasilla Oct. 14, 2007, and resided with their son, Tom, and daughter-in-law, Maru Gindling.

Bob was an avid bass fisherman. He loved to go camping with his five children. Bob worked for the Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis Star News and Indianapolis Star and retired after 37 years in the newspaper industry. After retirement, Bob and Joann enjoyed traveling in their motor home to and in all 50 states. They enjoyed each other’s companionship and did everything together.

Bob met the love of his life, Joann, when he was 23, and they later married Oct. 14, 1950. Bob was a World War II veteran. He volunteered to join the 854th Platoon U.S. Marine Corps, lying about his age in 1943. He spent 24 months of his three-year tour in the Pacific. He fought in Saipan and Guam in 1944. Guam was cleared for the USS Indianapolis to drop off the atomic bombs. Bob was on board the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay for the formal surrender of Japan. He fought for the freedom of all human beings and never boasted about anything except the big fish that got away. His only complaint was that he did not like orange marmalade or mustard.

“Bob is our hero and will be greatly and honorably missed,” his family wrote. “He respected all walks of life and when he saw babies he had to hold them. He enjoyed talking to everyone because no one was a stranger. God bless Bob. He is now with his loved ones and will be waiting for us to join him.”

Robert was preceded in death by his four siblings and his son, Mark Anthony Gindling.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joann H. Gindling of Wasilla; daughter, Christine Marie Gindling of Lynchburg, Va.; son and daughter-in-law, Steven James and Penny Gindling of Indianapolis; daughter and son in-law, Stephanie Ann and Ron Wilkins of Willow; and son and daughter in-law, Thomas William and Maru Villasenour Gindling of Wasilla. Bob is also survived by four grandchildren, Andrew Michael DeMaree of Forest, Va., Jessica Marie DeMaree of Indianapolis, Matthew Ross Gindling of Manchester, Mo., and Kimberly Sue Gindling of Dayton, Ohio. He has one great-grandchild, Emma Lynne DeMaree of Forest, Va.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in memory of Robert be made to Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, P.O. Box 4406, Palmer, AK 99645

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.