Robert Nelson Bigby

© The Stilwell Democrat Journal

January 31, 2007

Submitted by: Martha Real

Robert Nelson Bigby
July 17, 1934 - January 26, 2007

Robert (Bob) Nelson Bigby, age 72, passed away in his sleep at home in California on Friday January 26, 2007.
He was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma on July 17, 1934 to W.J.B. (Buster) Bigby and Rosella (Callie) Petty Bigby.

He spent his youth in his beloved Oklahoma living a wonderful life in the Oak Grove community before venturing out to start earning a living as a young man.
During high school he worked at the Eagle Theater in Stilwell. He also worked on various construction projects including highway construction in Adair County and the Alaska pipeline during the summers while he attended Northeastern State College in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where he earned his teaching degree in Elementary Education.
After graduating from Northeastern State College in 1958, Bob headed west to sunny California, only to discover the Monterey Bay area, where he would live and work for the next 30 years, was not "sunny" much of the time but an enjoyable place to live and work. There he met his soon to be wife, Pauline Schultz, a fellow teacher in Prunedale School.
Bob taught elementary education and retired from Prunedale School.
Bob and Pauline raised two darling daughters who were Bob's greatest joy. He was even more excited to welcome his two grand-daughters into the world and loved being PaPa and watching his grandchildren grow up.

Bob was a loving and caring man who enjoyed life. He was kind and generous to all who knew him and he was a loyal friend to many people in both California and Oklahoma. He loved to tell stories of his youth and spin yarns about his children and grandchildren. He fondly remembered his years as a teacher, and he enjoyed running into his former students. He will be greatly missed.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Buster and Callie Bigby; and two brothers, Harold and Burl Bigby.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline Bigby, his children, Sherri Bigby of Spanish Fort, UT and Kimberly and husband Paul Puri of Newark, CA; his grandchildren Megan and Elizabeth Puri; his sister Louise Adair of Stilwell, OK and his brother Gilbert Bigby of Tahlequah, OK as well as numerous nieces, nehews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Services will be held Friday, February 2 at Roberts, Reed-Culver Chapel in Stilwell, OK.
Interment will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery east of Stilwell. For more information, please contact Roberts, Reed-Culver Funeral Home (918) 696-2136.