Obituary of Wayne W Robb

 

Wayne W Robb was born December 9, 1930 in Smithfield, Nebraska to Hudson and Bernice Swanson Robb.  He passed away at the age of 88 at his home in Desert Hot Springs, California, surrounded by his family.

 

In 1931 Wayne won the Pretty Baby Contest at the Gosper County Fair in Elwood, Nebraska.  At the age of 6, the family traveled in a 1934 Chevrolet Touring car to Nyssa.  Their home was 14 x 28 - which is the size of two horse trailers.  The home was built north of Mitchell Butte in the winter.  Unfortunately, when the snow melted, the family discovered the home was built on the roadway.  The home was moved-off the road and placed atop a basement which is there to this day.

 

Wayne attended Owyhee Elementary School and Adrian High School, graduating in 1948.  On December 8, 1949, Wayne married Mildred Lytle.  They had three children: Michael, Gwendolyn and Julie.  In 1958 they moved to Moses Lake and Wayne worked with his brother, Jim, milking cows.  In 1961 he moved his family back to his parent’s home place by Mitchell Butte.  In 1969 the family moved near Adrian where he resided until his retirement in 1997.  Wayne's livelihood included farming, raising livestock, and doing custom farming. 

 

In 1972, Wayne and Millie bought land in Sumpter, Oregon.  They enjoyed spending weekends in the mountains.  Wayne always wanted to build a home in Sumpter using trees on the property.  By 1997, Wayne started building a beautiful log home.  Before Millie's death, they traveled to all 48 states and traveled south for the winters.  He enjoyed the warmer climate and using the pool every day.  Eventually he was able to plant a Grapefruit and Tangelo tree.  He loved going out each morning to pick fresh fruit for breakfast.  In 1996 Wayne married Marian Carey. He was separated from Marian at the time of his death.

 

When the family moved from Nebraska, Wayne 's Dad shipped a 1929 John Deere GP model tractor by railcar.  Sixty years later, Wayne found a similar tractor at a farm sale in Idaho Falls.  Later he attended a family auction in Nebraska and purchased a 1931 Model A car.   Wayne's most favorite place was Sumpter.  He loved being immersed in the quiet, the trees, the wildlife, and enjoying all his toys:  a '69 Bronco, four wheelers, his antique tractor and the Model A car.

 

Wayne was a member of the Owyhee Community Church for 55 years.  Wayne was a very special man.  He was liked and respected by all who knew him.  He loved and enjoyed his family.  He left his family a legacy of character, integrity, commitment, and kindness.

 

Wayne is survived by his sister Darlene (Lyle) Lake of Ontario, sister-in-law Shirley Robb of Turner, daughters Gwen (Ron) Miller of Boise and Julie (Duke) Fugate of Fruitland;  four grandchildren: Shelly (Robbie) Medley of Melba, Ashley (Sage) Potter of Meridian, Eric (Kelly) Edmondson of Springfield, and Cory (Carol) Edmondson of Idaho Falls; and five great grandchildren: Kyia, Jaylin, Corybn, Emmett, and Sadie.  Wayne  was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mildred, son Michael, and brother James Robb.

 

Services will be held at 10 am February 8th at Nyssa's Lienkaemper Chapel.  Burial will follow at the Owyhee Cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Adrian Scholarship Fund in memory of Wayne Robb. Checks can be made payable to Adrian Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 108, Adrian, Oregon, 97901.

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