In Memory

Robert W Giles - Class Of 1939

Robert W Giles

Robert Wolcott Giles, 93, died of natural causes in Santa Ana and is survived by his son, Paul, daughter-in-law Araxie, granddaughter, Cosette, great-grandson, Luke, younger brother Paul Giles (SPHS '45), and younger sister, Suzy Giles Melin (SPHS '47).

Bob was born in Mt. Vernon, New York on December 22, 1920 but moved to Pasadena with his family when he was just one. As the family needed money during the Depression, Bob left college early and went to work for Lockheed Martin in Burbank. He spent 48 years at Lockheed and ended his career as a Tool Planning Engineer.

It was at Lockheed, applying rivets to aircraft where he met Mary Merhar who became his wife in 1948. They lived in Burbank with their son, Paul, and daughter Barbara, and took yearly family road trips to all the National Parks, including one of their favorite camping spots, the Grand Canyon. In 1982 Bob became a grandfather but just a couple of years later, he lost his wife to cancer. 

In 1988 Bob retired from Lockheed and married Luella Urick. They lived in White Bear Lake, Minnesota until Luella passed in 2008. Bob moved back to California and lived with Paul and Araxie in their Yorba Linda home. He enjoyed his remaining years spending time with his family, including his younger sister, Suzy, his nieces, and his great-grandson.

Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2014