Robert "Bob" Bruce Eaton Obituary (1922

Robert Bruce (Bob) Eaton, 93, died of natural causes at the Poplar Living Center in Casper, Wyoming on Tuesday, September 8, 2015. Bob was born in the Oklahoma hills east of String Town, Oklahoma on February 25, 1922, the youngest son of Silas N. and Lizzie M (Young) Eaton. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, two brothers, Bill and Tom and one sister Irene Bozie and his wife Charlotte Keeler of 58 years. He is survived by two sons Walter Eaton of Farson and James (Toby) Eaton with wife Karla also of Farson along with 6 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. His family moved from Oklahoma in 1930 to Eden Wyoming where he attended the school at Eden and played football for the Eden Bulldogs. Bob quit school at the age of 16 to help support his struggling family. He helped his mother on the farm and drove a milk truck to Rock Springs every week delivering the local farmers milk and delivered eggs, turkeys and chickens his family raised and sold to the stores and residences in Rock Springs. Charlotte Keeler was the love of Bob's life and on February 14, 1942, they were married at the Methodist Church in Rock Springs, Wyoming. With World War II ongoing, Bob joined the Navy in November of 1945 where he served with the Seabees in the Aleutian Islands. His son Walt was born while he was in the service and it would be several years before he would even see his first born son. His second son, James (Toby) was born in 1948 after he returned from the service. The family then lived in Rock Springs where he worked for Mountain Fuel until 1952 when they purchased farm ground in Farson and began their new life there. While living in Farson Bob ranched, did custom farming, sold machinery and served on many Boards. He was also instrumental in the formation of the Little Sandy Grazing Association which is still a thriving organization. For several years he and his family ran hunting and fishing camp along with a camp for teenage boys. Hunting and fishing was always Bob's passion in life. Charlotte was diagnosed with MS in the early 80's and eventually they felt the climate in Arizona would be better suited for her condition, so they leased and later sold their farms and moved to Cottonwood, Arizona where they enjoyed retirement and made many new friends until returning to Wyoming in 1995 and residing in Lander. Charlotte's illness eventually became severe enough that she had be placed in the Pinedale Convalescent Home until her death in 2006. When the years began to show on Bob, he moved to Farson to be closer to his sons until he too had to go into assisted living in Green River. He was recently placed at the Poplar Living Center in Casper, where he was a resident at the time of his death. A graveside service will be held Friday, September 11 at 1 o'clock at the Eden Valley Cemetery with a lunch at the Community Center following the ceremony. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Poplar Living Center in Casper,Wyoming.