Robert J. Hartley, 87

Robert J. Hartley, 87, left this world to join his family in heaven on Oct. 9, 2010. He was born Jan. 23, 1923, in Sebring, Ohio, the youngest of 10.

During the depression, he served in the CC Corp, based in Superior, Mont., where he fell in love with the Northwest. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Atlantic as a merchant marine and in the Pacific with the U.S. Navy. He survived three attacks while losing his ships.

He met his wife Virginia in 1946 and proposed after their second date. They married in 1947 and celebrated their 63rd anniversary last June. They moved to Montclair, Calif., in 1953, where they raised their son and twin daughters.

Robert worked for 35 years at Barson Machine shop in Ontario, Calif., as a machinist. He was a member of Pomona, Calif., Odd Fellow Lodge, volunteered at Montclair Methodist Church as a trustee. As a Boy Scout leader, he helped establish the first troops in Montclair.

In 1989 they moved to Post Falls to be with family and enjoy their retirement in "God's Country." Robert enjoyed woodworking, making numerous items for children, grandchildren, friends and preschools. He also loved to fish at Hauser Lake alone and with his son Herman. In his later years, he was known to his family to be the cat with nine lives, surviving cancers, operations, heart attacks, loss of eyesight and his hearing. He taught us to persist and laugh at whatever we are dealt in life. His joking laughter and ever present smile will long be remembered. We honor his memory and his service to others.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia; his son, Herman and twin daughters Roberta and Robin. He also had eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made in his name to TESH Inc. in Coeur d'Alene.