Robert 'Bob' Parkin

Celebration of Life and gathering for Robert ?Bob? ?Library Bob? Parkin will be at 7:00 pm. Thursday, June 28, 2007 at the Walker Funeral Home Chapel.The family requests in honor of Bob that you do not wear black but make this a tribute to Bob and share a story about Bob.Bob Parkin died on June 14, 2007 at his home in Gillette. A private cremation service has taken place. The cremains will be scattered near Sheridan, Wyoming by Bob?s family at a later date. Robert John Parkin was born on July 20, 1953 the son of John and Mae (Berkley) Parkin in Wanaque, New Jersey. Bob was raised and educated and graduated high school in Clifton, New Jersey. After graduating high school Bob was inducted into the United States Army and served a four year term in Viet Nam. After his honorable discharge from the service Bob traveled to Colorado and attended the Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, where he met the love of his life, Sally Crookston. Bob and Sally were married on August 16, 1980 in Rock Springs, Wyoming. They moved to Gillette, Wyoming and owned and operated The Last Record Store for numerous years. Bob then became employed with the Campbell County Public Library maintenance department where he had worked for the last twenty three years. He was recently promoted to the Campbell County Court House Maintenance Department as a supervisor. Bob and Sally were blessed with two sons; John Conner ?JC? and Alex Parkin.Bob was a Little League Coach, a Babe Ruth Baseball manager, an outdoor enthusiast and took his family camping in the Big Horn Mountains every summer. He was also a motorcycle freak and both his sons were raised on dirt bikes. Bob had a way of making people feel accepted being he was very non judgmental. He was a great cook and was an instant celebrity among anyone who ever ate at his table. Bob was a vivid story teller and had a talent for bringing Yankee Stadium, the Nam Jungles, or a great Blues concert alive to the listeners of his life. Bob believed in picking up hitch hikers and buying them dinner, simply on the basis that they seemed to be a little worse off then he was at the time. He would give a stranger the shirt off his back, the hat off his head, and the cigarette out of his mouth just because, ?That is what you?re supposed to do?. Bob was a thinker, a steel worker, a husband, a carpenter, a father, business owner, a ball player, a motor cyclist and a soon to be grandfather, but most of all Robert John Parkin was a magnificently compassionate and loving human being, a wonderful father and friend. Bob became involved in all his kids activities from baseball, gymnastics, hockey and motor cycling. As a father he raised two very competent boys, but he was a father to many more then just his two sons. With a great sense of humor and a sense of adventure he took his family and family friends to places some people only dream of, the mountains, New York, dirt biking, concerts, hockey games as far as Oklahoma. Bob was an amazing father and he treated his wife and soul mate Sally with respect and he loved her and cherished her. Bob was an avid reader in the non fiction genre and working at the library he truly was in his element around the books that he devoured on a daily basis. He was a member of the VFW Post 579, the NRA and served on the Little League Board of Directors.Bob is survived by his wife Sally Parkin, his two sons, JC and Alex Parkin all of Gillette, Wyoming, his mother, Mae Turneau of New Jersey, his sister, Shirley Parkin of Clifton, New Jersey, his Mother-in Law, Deon (Crookston) Smith and her husband Glanden Smith of Gillette, Wyoming, and one nephew, Ian Laveway.He was preceded in death by his father, John Parkin and his father in law John Crookston.A memorial has been established in Bob?s name and memorial or condolences can be sent in care of the Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or via the website www.walkerfuneralgillette.com.