Obituary of Robert Emmette Hooker

In Memory of Robert E. Hooker

Robert Emmette Hooker passed away peacefully at home with his wife by his side on Friday, January 21^st, 2022 after a long illness.  Mr. Hooker, known to most as “Bob”, and also affectionately known by the nickname “Pete” by much of his family, was born in his paternal grandmother’s house in Urich, Missouri on May 4^th, 1936.

The family relocated to Goleta, California when he was two years of age. They lived and worked on many ranches where he gained farming and agricultural skills during his youth. He used that knowledge and those skills extensively throughout is life. He loved the outdoors, and grew up hunting, fishing, and exploring the hills, canyons and beaches in and around Santa Barbara and the Goleta Valley. He attended Santa Barbara High School, and was a member of the Class of 1954. He was a proud Korean War Veteran having served in the United States Army.

Mr. Hooker was particularly proud of his accomplishments during his thirteen year career in iron work, and was a 61 year member of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union out of Local 416 of Pasadena, California. He contributed to the construction of many important projects, building the infrastructure of the State of California during the 1960’s and early 1970’s.  He helped to build many bridges along the Interstate Highway System, and buildings throughout the state of California. A few projects that he was particularly proud of were The Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) project at Vandenberg AFB, The Feather River Water Project, commonly known as The California Aqueduct, Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, and Castaic Power Plant. After being injured as an Iron Worker, Mr. Hooker started, owned and operated successful automotive repair shops in California and Oregon until his retirement. 

He was a lifelong avid gardener and fisherman, and enjoyed studying natural and anthropological history, classic cars and trucks, and he loved both kinds of music…Country and Western.

Mr. Hooker was passionate about sharing stories of the many experiences he’d had, and people he’d known during his lifetime, and will be fondly remembered by all who knew him as a great oral historian and a teller of tales.

He always worked exceptionally hard to provide a good life for his family. His determination and perseverance through life has been an inspiring example to his family, friends, and others who had the privilege to know him. He was loved and will be dearly missed.

In recent years, Mr. Hooker and his wife have been living with their son’s family in West Linn, Oregon.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jeannie Richelle; son Scott D. Hooker of Vashon Island, WA; daughter Caryn Rutland of Nipomo, CA; daughter Christy Berry of Simi Valley, CA; son Robert J. Hooker of West Linn, OR; daughter Brandy Hooker of Redding, CA; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; sister Sally Shaffer of Monticello, KY; brother Bill Hooker of Magalia, CA; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Robert Lee Hooker, Anna Ruth Callahan Hooker; son Joseph Scott Hooker; and granddaughter Autumn Rose Hooker.

Services to be held at a future date.
If you wish, in lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust
www.dav.org