Bob Willson

July 24, 1928 - July 2, 2020

In loving memory, Korean War Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient, one year ago a great man lost his battle with congestive heart failure and renal disease. He is missed by many friends and family. Bob was born in Boulder, Colorado. He was the youngest child of Wallace and Nannie Willson. When Bob was two years old his dad, mom, and older brother Harvey left Boulder to move to California and settled in South Pasadena where Bob spent most of his childhood and school years growing up. 

Bob met his wife of 68 years, Shirley Watterson (SPHS '48) in South Pasadena and they were married in August 1951. Bob had been drafted and was heading off to Korea to fight for our country. Bob was wounded in Korea and received a Purple Heart, returning to California in 1952. Bob and Shirley lived in the Pasadena area until 1959. Their daughters, Janice and Diane were both born while they were living in Pasadena. When daughter Janice was ready to start school the family decided to move to Arcadia and closer to Bob's work at Beckman Instruments in Fullerton. The family lived in Arcadia until 1993 when Bob and Shirley moved to Apple Valley. Many of their close friends had moved or were also moving to Apple Valley and they stayed until 2015 when they moved back to Arcadia to be closer to their daughters.

Bob was a professional Glassblower and worked many years for Beckman Instruments and DuPont. In 1980 when DuPont was moving their facility to Delaware, Bob decided to start his own business, Willson Scientific Glass where he would continue to make technical glassware for DuPont. Willson Scientific Glass was established in Arcadia and in 1990 moved to Monrovia. Bob loved his work and even after moving to Apple Valley he would make the drive down and back up the Cajon Pass everyday just to be at his job. He also loved traveling and boating and he and Shirley spent many years boating on Lake Mohave with their in-laws and many friends. Trips to Alaska, trips around the perimeter of the United States, trips across central United States were all adventures he loved. Traveling, boating, and camping were Bob's most favorite activities though a close second would have been throwing parties and inviting all his friends and family to participate. Bob was quite the 'Party Person' and really loved socializing with everyone. Bob's smiling, and happy personality will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife Shirley, his daughter and son-in-law Janice and Brent Palmer, daughter Diane; two grandsons and four great-grandchildren. Bob is and will forever be missed by all his family and friends.

Pasadena Star-News, July 1, 2021