Bobby Keith Strack, a Manteca resident for 36, years passed away on December 6, 2010, at the age of 66 at his home, in the company of his loved ones.  

Bobby was born June 13, 1944 in Corning, California, where he grew up enjoying the carefree life of a small town boy. In high school he was he was known as “the Beast” of the school football team for his aggressive play.  Bob was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving in the Air Police in Lakenheath, England; Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Tui Hoa and Phan Rang in Viet Nam.   He worked his way through college on the G.I. bill earning his AA in Social Sciences from Shasta Junior College in Redding and his BA in History from Chico State College.  He worked as a correctional officer at Deuel Vocational Institute in Tracy, California for 26 years before retiring in 2000.

While attending Shasta College, Bob met Paulette Walden of Red Bluff, California and they  married in 1974.  His wife of 36 years, she now survives him along with son Garrett Strack and his children Jared and Lindsay; as well as Bob’s daughter Rannett Harkey and her husband Rick and adult children Heather and Shawn. Bob was a loving grandpa and his greatest regret was leaving his grandchildren too soon. Bobby also leaves a large extended family including his brother Gary Strack and sister Karen Mills, both of Corning.  He was preceded in death by his younger sister Linda Mason and his mother Eileen and father Ray.

Bob was a lifelong athlete who enjoyed road running as well as track and field events.  He competed all over California participating in club runs and the CDC Games, California Police Games and the Senior Games.  He ran several marathons including races in San Francisco and London, England. He was a founding member of Manteca Quicksilver Running Club, serving for many years as fun run director.  In his later years Bob became a social tennis player with a wicked hook backhand. He was an avid fan travelling with his wife to professional tournaments in Indian Wells and New York City.

Travel was important to Bob since his days in the military.  He and his wife enjoyed multiple trips, sometimes taking along children or grandchildren to England, Hawaii, Washington, D.C. and Florida.  He also enjoyed Mexico and the Caribbean.  Bob was a fan of Bay Area sports teams and other interests including coin collecting, investing in stocks and real estate, and reading history and biography.

During his long illness Bob participated in two separate clinical drug trials at UCSF to advance research into the treatment of renal cell cancer.  In his final months he was in the care of Community Hospice of Modesto.

Bob requested cremation and that his ashes be scattered privately.  Local friends are invited to join his family in a celebration of Bob’s life with a tree planting at a local park. A date will be announced later. A second event will be held in his home town of Corning, California.  

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, friends may honor Bob by performing any random act of kindness, or by making a contribution to any Hospice chapter, the American Cancer Society, or to any youth sports program. An online guest book is available for special messages to the family at www.plfryandson.com