Robert  “Bob” E Whitmore of Ripon, was born in Arroya, Colorado  December 17, 1927 and went home to the Lord on October 5, 2009 at the  age of 81 following a long battle with cancer. He will be remembered  for his positive outlook and sense of humor. He enjoyed making  others smile by teasing or sharing a joke with them. He loved to travel,  read and spend time with friends and family.  

He is survived by  his wife Ethel “Mikie” Whitmore of 34 years, his children Robert  S (Trilby) Whitmore of San Bernardino, California, Ronald E (Miriam)  Whitmore of Halesworth England, and Julie (Jim) Smit of Ripon;  his grandchildren, Edwin (Louise) Whitmore of Norwich, England, Cindy  Smit of Ripon, and Kevin Smit of San Carlos, California.  He is also survived by his sisters, Wanda (Bill) VanderLaan of Madera,  Rosalie (Bill) Macauley of Cottage Grove, Oregon and bother William  (Bobbie) Whitmore of Modesto. He was preceded in death  by his parents Noah and Lois Whitmore and brothers Richard and Chester  Whitmore.  

 Bob’s  parents moved to Ripon from Colorado in 1928.  He went to Ripon  Grammar School and graduated from Ripon High School in 1945. He served  in the U.S Coast Guard from 1945-47 aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Bramble.   He was proud to have served with the Bramble during “Operation Crossroads”  the first tests of the atomic bomb on surface ships in the Bikini Islands. He returned to Ripon after discharge and in 1952 began employment at  the Ver-Nal Canning Company in Ripon, working in maintenance until the  cannery closed in 1982.  He was employed by Ripon Unified School  District as a custodian and bus driver until his retirement in 1994.

Bob  loved serving his community and did so in a variety of ways.  In 1966 he joined the Ripon Police Officer Reserves where he served until  1990.  He was also a member of many community organizations including  Ripon Jaycees, Ripon chapter of I.O.O.F (Odd Fellows), American Legion,  Ripon Arts League, and Ripon Lyons Club where he served as president  and zone chairman. In recent years, through the Odd Fellows Association,  he worked with a local Boy Scout troop. He also served as a Commissioner  for the City of Ripon Historical Commission, and was a member of the  Ripon Historical Society as well as a volunteer docent at the Clarence  Smit Museum in Stouffer Park.

Visitation will be on Friday, October 9, 2009, 2 to 5 p.m. A memorial service  will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2009, 10 a.m. at Deegan  Ripon Memorial Chapel.  His ashes will be scattered at sea by the  US Coast Guard. Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society.  On line guest book available at www.deeganfuneralchapels.com.