Robert Stambaugh

Bob Stambaugh was born on February 18, 1934, in Huntington Park, CA.

He was the fourth of five children born to Ira and Violet Stambaugh.

Violet’s family had first arrived in California around the turn of the

century, although Ira and Violet met and married in Saco, MT. By the

time Bobby was born his older siblings Vernon, Barbara and Paul were

ages 10 to 15. Because of the difference in age he would eventually be

almost an older brother to his nieces and nephews. The youngest

brother Richard was born in 1935, and these two had a close bond from

the beginning.

The family moved to Whittier, CA when Bob was in high school, and he

graduated from Whittier High School. He lived in Whittier for the next

70 years, and for the remainder of his life it was an important part of his

identity. The family lived on Summit Drive, and attended the First

United Methodist Church.

Bob attended Pomona College, but eventually transferred to USC, where

he earned an engineering degree. USC, too, made a deep mark. He

continued to follow the school’s achievements, both academic and

athletic. He was a member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. While at

SC he also discovered El Cholo Mexican restaurant, where he would

continue eating for the rest of his life!

In 1956 Bob was home in Whittier and attended a young adult event at

the Methodist church. There he met a young woman newly arrived from

Dallas, Nancy Nicholson. She was attending Whittier College. Nancy

said that she decided immediately that this was the man she was going

to marry! They were married on August 24, 1958. They bought a little

house on Western Avenue, and in 1962 Robin was born, followed by

David in 1964 and Michael in 1969.

Bob’s first job out of college was with a refrigeration company named

Recold. Not long after he made a career change and entered the

insurance business, joining a company called ISI. This led ultimately to

joining Dean Witter. Working mostly out of the Whittier branch office,

Bob spent 28 years with the firm, deepening his community roots as he

helped local clients and businesses with financial decisions.

After retirement in 1996 he took up a number of community projects,

including building houses with Habitat For Humanity, serving on the

Board of the YMCA and work with Plymouth Church and more recently

Redemption Hill Church. He spent many hours expanding on the family

genealogies started by his grandmother and Nancy’s father. His most

recent hobby has been building wooden bluebird houses for the

Southern California Bluebird Club.

In addition, Bob and Nancy traveled a great deal. They visited six out of

seven continents, exploring by ship, safari, car, bus, foot and RV. Luckily

their children didn’t get around to grandchildren right away, because

once they started to arrive Nancy began to balk at being gone all the

time! Bob’s parents had experienced many wonderful trips in their

retirement years and he loved being able to do the same.

Bob and Nancy’s first grandchild, Grant, was born in 2001 to Dave and

Judy. Their son Blake was born in 2002, followed by Justina Brandt,

daughter of Robin and Tracy, also in 2002. Mike and Angelica’s kids,

Nick and James, were born in 2013 and 2015. All live in Southern

California, so the family has gathered regularly for birthdays,

Thanksgiving at Sky Forest, Fourth of July in the Lindante backyard and

Christmas. Bob and Nancy also made a point of attending their

grandchildren’s special sporting and artistic events, as well as

graduations and other school ceremonies. They fostered a wonderful,

close family bond that connects us all deeply.

Bob and Nancy moved to Morningside of Fullerton in 2019, the first time

they had lived together outside of Whittier.

Bob is survived by Nancy, children Robin and Tracy Brandt (Justina),

Dave and Judy Stambaugh (Grant, Blake) and Mike and Angelica

Stambaugh (Nicholas, James)