SANBORN, Robert Ross LCDR

Robert Ross Sanborn, LCDR, USN (Ret.), age 87, died peacefully, from complications of heart failure on June 25, 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. He was born on May 23, 1923 in Waterloo, Iowa to parents, Clyde Ross Sanborn and Emily Trevarthen Sanborn. As a young boy, Bob moved with his family to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he grew up and graduated from Franklin High School. After high school, Bob began as a student at Iowa State University in Ames, but World War II intervened and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in December 1942. Returning home on leave he married his high school sweetheart, Arline Jayne on Christmas Eve 1943. Remaining in the service for 30 years, Bob served actively and honorably in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. After retiring from the Navy in June 1972, Bob began his R.V. adventures in a Winnebago. He helped form and was president of the California State Club. By this time Arline's health began to deteriorate and she died on November 19, 1975. Later Bob continued his RVing and was introduced through mutual friends, George and Jane Gray to Virginia Lind in 1976. It was love at first sight and they were married in Newhall, near Los Angeles, California on April 4, 1977. Convincing Virginia to leave her job as an educator they preceded to continue their great RV adventure for nearly a decade, experiencing a variety of activities including various club offices, Western Regional Director of Winnebago-Itasca Travelers RV Club and working a summer in Yellowstone National Park. After visiting 47 states plus parts of Canada and Mexico, winters in Tucson beckoned and a home was purchased in 1986. Although continuing to travel with the R.V., Bob became active in many organizations in Tucson. He was membership chairman for the Tucson East Chapter of AARP for many years, spent ten years as treasurer of the Tucson Chapter of MOAA and was active in NAUS, Lion 4, Nashvillers, National Rifle Association, National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, Tucson Rod and Gun Club, MARBLES and Family Motor Coach Association among others. He is survived by his wife, Virginia; his sister, Joyce Powell; his children, Vicky (Doug) Dewar, Rick (Lisa) Sanborn, D'Dree (Keith) Stidham, Doug (Amy) Sanborn; 12 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was a warm, loving and patriotic husband and father. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Scholarship Fund of the Tucson Chapter of MOAA, P.O. Box 15068, Tucson, Arizona 85708. A tremendous thank you to all his doctors and to all TMC's PCCU personnel and the personnel at Peppi's House for their sensitive and supportive care. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway. His cremains will be interred at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, California. Published in the Tucson Newspapers from June 29 to June 30, 2010