Robert Donald Billings, 83

On Aug. 15, 2023, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather Robert Donald Billings, Bob as he was known to everyone, departed this world for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bob was born 15 minutes before his brother, Bill, on Sept. 19, 1939 in Long Beach, Calif., to Irwin and Lucy Billings. He spent his early years attending high school at Long Beach Poly and driving his lowrider with a car club called the Swedes. He met his wife-to-be in 1959 and joined the U.S. Marines in 1962. After graduating from Marine Basic, he married Judith Anne on July 7, 1962.

Bob’s professional life was long and colorful beginning with his career at Oroweat bakery, then partnering with his brother in 1969 to own and operate the Savage House pizza parlor which grew to five locations by 1980 throughout the Spokane area. After selling the pizza parlors, Bob went back into the bread industry for a couple of years before opening the Savage House restaurant in the Spokane Valley in 1982. In 1984, they were forced to close due to water damage. Bob then returned to Oroweat where he retired in 2005. Not being one to sit still, Bob moved to Spirit Lake Idaho in 2006 to be closer to his family where he purchased and operated B&J RV park until his passing.

Bob awaits his wife of 61 years, Judy; his son, Robert; and his daughters, Randi, Wendy and Vikki. Also, his grandchildren, Nicole, Joshua, Matthew, Harley, Zachary, Maxwell, Sydnie, Casey, Adam, Jacob, Austin, Kathryn, Delaney, Samuel and Rebecca and his great-grandchildren, Natalie, Emmet, Margo, Piper, Brewer, Levi, Jeffery, Maela, Ireland and Callahan, with three more on the way.

A celebration of life will be held at Hennessey Valley Funeral Home in Spokane Valley on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. To share condolences for the family, visit www.hennesseyvalley.com.