Dear CRCC Members :

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of a long time friend and club member Bob Schoonover.

Bob passed away peacefully on Sunday with family by his side at St. Judes Hospital in Fullerton after a return of pancreatic cancer that spread to his liver. Bob and wife Jan joined the club on May 18, 2009 and drove a 1997 torch red Corvette. Their CB handle was "Scooter". Bob served as our Sgt at Arms during club meetings and was our Santa Clause at all of our Christmas Banquets, including our last one just a few weeks ago.

Bob loved the water, especially the Colorado River and spent many years boating and jet skiing along its shores. His love for the outdoors included off roading, and shooting guns on many of our back trails here in Arizona. I personally went out with Bob on three (3) different occasions and we got stuck each and every time. I used to ask him....."Hey Bob, where are we?" His answer was always, "I don't know"...... The last time we somehow got "high centered" on a boulder and couldn't move. It was late afternoon, and getting dark so I called Jim Robinson and past President Gale Allen, both Marines to come out and find us. Bob wanted to stay overnight with the vehicle and I told him ...."Bob, I love you dearly, but I'm not spending the night out here with you, so let's start walking". After shooting off some fireworks to help pinpoint our coordinates, we finally got picked up by Jim and Gale just as it was getting dark, and went out the next morning to rescue the Ranger off road vehicle.

Bob and wife Jan who passed a few years ago were also very big autocross fans and would participate in many of the sponsored Corvette events. They won many championship trophies, some so large, they hardly fit in the Corvette. They were both very competitive with each other which made it fun to listen to them argue a bit, although Bob would admit, "she was the better driver". They won several car show trophies as well with their torch red C5 Corvette due to all the work Bob had put into dressing up the engine and the overall look of his Corvette. Bob and Jan were also huge bowlers for many years, that's how they met, and played on many bowling leagues including the football league here in Bullhead City.

Bob had a very successful career as a truck driver, driving both locally and cross country. He started his driving career at age 18 as an owner operator and worked the remaining years with JB Hunt where he received a distinguished driving award for driving two (2) million safe miles without an accident. A very proud moment for Bob. He would always complain that the motors on his semi-trucks had "governors" on them and he couldn't go faster than 68 miles an hour! Bob as you know liked to "push the pedal" a bit.

Bob was a kind and loving person, and a friend to everyone who knew him. He would volunteer for anything, and was always available to help anyone who needed it. He was very involved with the Relay for Life American Cancer Society programs here in Bullhead City helping to raise money for cancer research. He would dress up as "Miss Relay" and actually won a couple of contests. Bob loved to have fun and kid around as you can see by his picture below with Debbie Hendren, who became the love of his life and shared a very special relationship.

Life is what you make it, and Bob made it beautiful. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Services will be this spring next to the Colorado River which was a favorite and peaceful playground for Bob.

God Bless our friend Bob Schoonover.

Greg Attl

President