Robert S. Jimenez, of Greenbank, Washington, athlete, scholar, electronics engineer, computer/scientist, devoted husband and father, made the trip to his maker June 24, 2012.

Bob, as he was known to his family and friends, was born, raised, and educated in El Paso, Texas, where he competed in track and field, swimming and diving, tennis, and baseball, and achieved championship levels in tennis at the high school, collegiate, and armed services levels. In addition, he was an excellent student, achieving honor roll status in both the high school and collegiate levels. As testament to his academic accomplishments, while he was competing for the Texas State tennis championships, which he won, he simultaneously represented El Paso High School in the Texas State Slide Rule championships where he was a formidable foe, finishing in the finals of that event.

A United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War, he served in Japan and Indochina, (later Vietnam) as an armament specialist. While stationed in Japan he won the Far Eastern Air Force tennis championships and represented the U. S. Air Force in the Far East and mainland United States in tennis tournaments and exhibitions.

After his Air Force service, he completed his college education at Texas Western College, now the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was an outstanding member of the tennis team and an outstanding scholar. 

After graduation, he had an illustrious career as an electronics engineer and computer scientist, working for Schlumberger and Texas Instruments. Upon retirement from Texas Instruments, he spent a number of years as a “rock hound” in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and Seattle areas. During his time in the Seattle area he edited the Seattle Area Rock Hound Newsletter.

Bob was preceded in passing by his wife, Shirley, his parents, and a brother, Thomas Jimenez. He is survived by his wife’s children, Michael Phillips of Houston, Texas; Audy and Marie Phillips of Duvall, Washington; Kellie Phillips of Bellevue, Washington; his brother-in-law and sister, Jerry & Carolina Cogswell, of Los Lunas, New Mexico; a brother, Edgar Jimenez Jr., of Kansas City, Missouri; his nephew and wife and their family, Edgar and Lita Jimenez whose children are Kerry Robert, Michael Edgar, and Carlita Leeann; and numerous cousins and their families located throughout the United States and Germany.

Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, July 11, 2012, at South Whidbey Community Church in the Grange, 5142 South Bayview Road, Langley, WA.

God Bless you Bob, we will miss you.