Robert Harold Jennings Jr.

Robert H. Jennings Jr.

November 28, 1931 – January 10, 2025

On January 10, 2025, Robert H. Jennings Jr. made his final cast into the calm pools of eternity.

Robert “Bob” was born in Oklahoma City on November 28, 1931 to the parents of Aura Lucille and Robert H. Jennings Sr. By the time he was 12, he had a steady aim, hunting many a squirrel and rabbit to help feed his family during the Depression on the family farm near El Reno, Oklahoma. The family eventually sold the farm and moved to Bluejacket, Oklahoma, where Bob would graduate from high school in 1948. He would go on to attend college at Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University. He graduated with a degree in Agricultural Science and was also part of the ROTC program. Later in life, he would earn a Master’s Degree in Botany from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado.

After college, Bob embarked on his career in the US Army. He would become a helicopter pilot and served 2 tours in Vietnam. He became a highly decorated officer but eluded a lot of recognition as he preferred to pass it on to others. Still, he received a National Defense Medal, numerous Army aviation badges and air medals, his Vietnam service medals, a Bronze Star, Army Commendations, and Legion of Merit. He would serve his country for 21 years and attain the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

While in flight school in San Marcos, Texas in the summer of 1955, he met Charlotte Walker on a blind date. He would affectionately call her his Yellow Rose. Their courtship was filled with fun, laughter, and dancing in the Texas Hill Country. In October 1957, they married in Kerrville, Texas and became forever pilot and co-pilot. Their first assignment together was to Germany. Bob always remembered his time there with a resounding “Ja, Ja! Schmeckt gut!”.

In 1959 Bob and Charlotte returned back to Texas where they welcomed their first child, a baby boy who they named Robert Harold Jennings III. In October of 1960, they welcomed their second child, a daughter they named Alane Charlotte. After he finished his last tour in Vietnam, Bob and Charlotte would return to Fort Hood, Texas and complete their family with another baby boy who they named William Arthur.

Bob loved to travel with Charlotte and spent time in Germany and Hong Kong while he was serving in the Army. When in the states, they loved to camp and travel the western US especially in Colorado and California where he got his first taste of fly fishing. He loved to seek peace and solace fly fishing on the banks of Spring Creek and the Taylor River in the Gunnison River Valley.

After retiring from the Army and receiving his Master’s Degree in Botany, Bob and his family returned to Center Point, Texas to take over Charlotte’s family ranch and help provide support for her parents. They would later sell the ranch and settle in Fredericksburg, Texas. He continued to travel and camp and fish with Charlotte while snow birding to the Pacific Northwest. After his children migrated to the Northwest, Bob and Charlotte ultimately chose to settle in Bandon, Oregon.

Bob lived his life with dignity and honor and respect for everyone he encountered. He was stern but fair. He was proud of his service to his country but oh so humble. He loved being a helicopter pilot and would reminisce about his times in Germany and Vietnam. He could build anything and often repaired his antique furniture and built small greenhouses. He loved gardening and continually cultivated his knowledge of the plants and soils throughout his life. A firm believer in a life of moderation, Bob did not believe in material things. He did love Happy Hour, especially with his family, and he loved to barbecue and grill with a cold beer or gin and tonic. He always said, “I’ll make your first drink but after that you are on your own.” His evenings were frequently spent listening to Merle, Willie, and Waylon or watching a good Clint Eastwood or war movie. He loved fishing of all kinds but his love of fly fishing always floated to the top. “Presentation, presentation, presentation!”

Above all else, he fiercely loved and protected his family. Dad, Pops, and Opa….we love you and will miss you immensely. He is survived by his 3 children; Bob and his wife Anne, Alane and her husband Tim, and Will and his wife Skila. He is also survived by his 5 amazing grandchildren Jackson, Ben, Brittany, Aeyden and Mateo.

The family gathered at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Coos Bay on January 16 for a graveside service, celebration of life and final flight into eternity.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Harold Jennings Jr., please visit our floral store.