Bob Gene Whitehead

Bobby “Bob” Gene Whitehead died peacefully in his apartment on the 25th of August 2021, in Antioch, California at the age of 89. Bob was born on the 4th of December 1931 in Pauls Valley Oklahoma to Emmon Titus and Mattie Belle Whitehead. He had one sibling, an older brother, Joe Whitehead.

During the first years of his life, he lived on the family farm in Maysville, Oklahoma. When he was three years old, his family sold the farm and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. He loved living in Phoenix and always hoped he could move back there someday. During his childhood he enjoyed running around with his friends and sometimes earned money by working in a watermelon patch.

In his early teens Bob and his mother moved to Los Angeles, California and lived there for a few years. After their brief stay in Los Angeles, they moved back to Phoenix. Bob got a job with the Salt River Valley Water Users Association in 1950. He worked for the Water Users during the summer and a swamp cooler assembly company in the winter.

Bob was drafted into the army for the Korean war on the 31st of January 1952. He reached the rank of Corporal in the Quartermaster Corps. He worked in a supply station in Korea. He was honorably discharged on the 31st of December 1953. Bob was given the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with three bronze service stars and the National Defense Service Medal.

After being discharged, Bob returned to Phoenix where his father, mother and brother lived. He met and married Margaret “Margie” Mosher on the 1st of July 1957, in Las Vegas, Nevada. They resided in Phoenix and adopted their first child, Ty (son), in 1967 and their second child, April (daughter), in 1973.

Bob moved his family to Madera County, California in 1977. He worked at California State University Fresno as an outdoor/dorms maintenance person.

After divorcing in 1987, Bob moved into the city of Madera and resided at The Meadows mobile home park. He met his longtime girlfriend, Judy Yanez, in 1989. They were a couple until his death.
Shortly before his death, he moved to Antioch, California to live closer to his children.

Bob is predeceased by his father, mother, and brother. He is survived by his children, Ty of San Francisco, April of Antioch. He is also survived by his grand-daughter Verena Hill of Antioch, his girlfriend Judy Yanez of Madera and his ex-wife Margie Whitehead of Antioch.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, 2nd of September 2021, from 2:00-6:00 pm at Jay Chapel in Madera, California. Funeral services are scheduled for 3rd September 2021, at Arbor Vitae Cemetery arbor. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bob's life. Condolences can be sent to 2463 Carpinteria Dr, Antioch CA 94531 or posted on the tribute page (https://www.jaychapel.com/tributes/Bob-Whitehead). The family would like to thank Judy Yanez and her children for all the years of love and care they provided and the staff of TreVista Senior Living in Antioch.