Bob Walborn's funeral

Today was Bob Walborn's funeral in the Logan 14th Ward. This is a picture of the hearse from the Allen-Hall Mortuary in Logan at Bob's grave site in the Logan Cemetery.

1941 Cadillac hearse

Bob would have loved this hearse. It was the perfect final ride for him as he loved cars & was a wonderful mechanic.

ROBERT C. "BOB" WALBORN

LOGAN, UTAH: Robert Carl Walborn, 89, of Logan, died Tuesday , May 10, 2011 in Logan. He was born June 3, 1921 in Pequa, Ohio, a son of Carl Kenneth and Sena Myrl Heaton Walborn. He was the oldest of three children.

Robert met his wife, Loretta Spillers when he started school in the fifth grade and she in the third in Maplewood, Ohio. They were married ten years later on Aug. 30, 1941, in Port Jefferson, Ohio. This summer would have marked their 70th wedding anniversary. While he was serving in the United States Army during World War II he came in contact with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he became a member.  In 1951 the family moved west to Preston, Idaho, and lived there for eight years.  On Aug. 8, 1952, the family was sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They later moved to Logan in 1960.

Robert has worked until age 83 as a backyard mechanic where he loved helping many college students with their cars. He spent 33 years with Logan Manufacturing as a machinist.  He held many callings in the church where his most enjoyable calling was that of a greeter on Sunday mornings. He and Loretta served an 18 month mission in Poplar Bluff, Mo., from 1988-1989.

He is survived by his wife, Loretta; a son, Charles and Edna Walborn, Martinez, Ga.; a son-in-law, Ben and Marie Schiess, River Heights, Utah; a brother, Miles Walborn, Findley, Ohio; 12 grandchildren, Royce and Tana Williams; Richard and Tracie Williams; Robert and Irada Schiess; Suzanne S. and Lynn Gnehm; Carla W. and Kenneth Zielke; Marcos and DeJun Walborn; Sena W. and Lloyd Clark; Dotti W. and Scott McCabe; Rachel W. and Derek Farr; Loretta Lee Walborn; Treva W. and Wayne Gabrish; James and Laurina Walborn; 29 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren and many others who call him “Grandpa Bob.” He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sylvia Schiess, and his sister, Neva June Comer.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 am in the Logan 14th Ward chapel, 94 W. 600 South.  There will be a viewing on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Allen-Hall Mortuary and at the church on Saturday from 9:30 - 10:30 am.  Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net

Some notes from the funeral:

Bob served in the South Pacific during WWII. He joined the church there. When he wrote to Loretta telling her he had joined the church, she wrote back & said she wasn't going to be one of his Mormon wives. When Bob came home from the war, he invited the missionaries to teach Loretta & the kids. One of those missionaries was Reed Hawkes from Preston, Idaho. That's how the family ended up here in 1951. Maybe it was 1952 because they lived in Preston for 8 years & then moved to Logan in 1960.

Reed Hawkes & his wife Norma were there today & Reed asked Loretta if he could talk. He wasn't on the program, but Loretta graciously let him. Don caught them in the picture above. He is the tall white-haired man facing the camera. The woman in the pink top is standing in front of him. His wife is the lady in the white blazer. I am standing there with my hands thrust into the pockets of my turquoise jacket. I think I was trying to either get up enough nerve to talk to him or get close enough to talk to Loretta. The lady in black walking toward the hearse is Marie Schiess, Ben's wife. Ben is Sylvia's husband & is standing behind Marie, watching her walk away. I thought it was interesting that Marie sat by Loretta at the graveside holding her hand, while Ben stood behind them.

Bob served as the ward clerk for many years in the Logan 14th Ward, but at the same time he was a greeter. He loved people.


I have known Walborns my entire life. Bob loved to tell about the first time they met me. I was just a toddler, learning to walk & I kept telling my parents I was 'leepy & wanted to go home. I have always thought that was funny. My circadian rhythm wasn't too out of sync when I was little. It is now though.

And tonight, I'm 'leepy & want to go to bed.