Robert Bob Woitas

Robert Bob Woitas, 52, a Redlands resident passed away on the morning of March 10th, 2014 at the VA Hospital in Loma Linda, CA after a long brave battle with colon cancer. Bob was born August 28, 1961 in Cheverly, Maryland to the parents of Cleates and Alice Woitas. Around the age of two, Bob moved to Minnesota lake, Minnesota where he lived with his family until graduating from Minnesota Lake High School. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served for 21 years. He was stationed in Japan, Hawaii, Philippines and Thailand and he traveled all over the world. In 1991 while bob was in Chicago, he met his pen pal and future wife, Gina Velasco, who was working in Hong Kong. They were married in the Philippines on December 28, 1992. They moved to San Diego, CA in 1998 and Bob retired from the navy in 2000. Bob went to work for the San Bernardino Police Department as a 911 Dispatcher. He went on to serve as a Community Service Officer II and finished his career as a Forensic Specialist I, altogether working for the SBPD for 13 years. Bob and Gina raised three children, Joshua and Zachary both born in Chicago and Nicole in San Diego. Joshua currently attends California State University San Bernardino in the nursing program, Zachary is in the Marines stationed at Twentynine Palms and Nicole attends Redlands East Valley High School. Family and outdoor activities were very important to Bob. One of his favorite things he enjoyed was cooking and Thanksgiving was that special time where no matter if he had worked all night or not, he always could not wait to cook the turkey meal for his family. He also made incredible homemade bread and pizza. He always enjoyed scenic driving vacations where he seemed to never get tired. He loved camping, fishing, hiking, skydiving, shooting and golf. He was an avid Minnesota Vikings Football fan and followed hockey and car racing. He was an adult leader in Troop 3 Boy Scouts of America with his sons and participated in several summer camps where he won the belly flop championship at Emerald Bay on Catalina Island. Bob is survived by his mother Alice Woitas (MN), brother Benny Woitas (ID), Jody Woitas (AK), Troy Woitas (IA), Joe Woitas (MN), and sisters Joyce Eichten (MN), Cleta Hanton (MN), Beth Giles (MN), Rena Hall (MN) and Becki Lemmons (MN). Bob was a loving husband, father, son, brother, mentor and friend. He exemplified the motto he always taught to his family, Don t Ever Give Up ,
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Emmerson Bartlett Memorial Chapel, 703 Brookside Avenue., Redlands, CA; Visitation will be held there from 4pm 8pm Thursday March 20th, The funeral will be Friday, March 21st at 11:00 a.m. at the Mortuary Chapel. The burial service will be that afternoon at 2:15 p.m. at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA.