Robert 'Bob' Dix Unden, 81

Robert "Bob" Dix Unden, 81, of Post Falls, Idaho, passed away in the loving arms of Jesus and Mary on Friday, April 10, 2015. He received all of the necessary Catholic Sacraments for a holy death.

Bob was born in Portland, Ore., on Easter, April 16, 1933, to Ragnar and Margie Unden. His mother asked the doctor, "Is it an Easter Bunny or an Easter Lily?" Bob was the only child and last surviving "UNDEN" on his side of the family.

Bob was ranked a genius. For 34 years he worked as an Aerospace Design Engineer/Scientist both for North American Rockwell in California and McDonald Douglas in Richland, Wash. He also worked with Johnson Matthey in Spokane, Wash., as a Design and Manufacturing Engineer. He was a pioneer in the invention of the Apollo 13 Space Shuttle, which was the seventh manned mission in the American Apollo Space Program and the 3rd intended to land on the moon.

In 1971, Bob was head-hunted to work with McDonnell Douglas in Richland, Wash. as a top Design Engineering Scientist in which he pioneered the invention of the first artificial heart which later became what is known today as the pace-maker.

Bob also worked for Cominco American/Johnson Matthey for over 20 years before his retirement in 1990. While he was with Johnson Matthey, he invented the first gold-wire spooling machine to be utilized for spooling gold wire for machine manufacturing and wiring computer mother boards.

Bob married Mary Louise Ederra on Nov. 15, 1958. They were married 34 years. He was a loving father to two daughters, Alison Shawn Unden and Alicia Lynn Unden.

Bob lived in Post Falls, Idaho, for 44 years and developed a great mainstay of friends and associates. He was a classic car/hot rod enthusiast his entire life during which he fully re-built a 1932 Ford Roadster named "Charlie Brown" as well as a 1938 Cadillac 60 Special.

He was truly charismatic, witty and a jokester, but also worked to maintain a positive outlook on life. Bob also loved music and was gifted at playing any instrument given to him. He played rinky-tink piano and the bongos. He was always the life and entertainment at any gathering.

Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Alison, in July of 2005. He is survived by his wife, Mary Unden; daughter Alicia Lynn Unden-Barbachano and son-in-law James Barbachano; two grandchildren, Devin James Barbachano and Jolie Alison Barbachano.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow, April 16 (Bob's birthday), at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls. Requiem Funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 17, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 495 N. Lincoln St., Post Falls. Interment will be at the Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley, Calif.

We will greatly miss his generous spirit and engaging smile.

Please sign Bob's guest registry and view online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.