Robert “Bob” Waggener passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022 in Walnut Creek, California surrounded by his family at the age of 83.
Bob was born in Irving Texas and grew up traveling to various military bases with his Mother, Florence, and his father Robert D Waggener, who worked as a civilian employee of the US army. Bob graduated high school from the Frankfurt American High School in Frankfurt Germany in 1956. He returned home to the United States to attend college at Central Washington University in Ellensburg Washington. It was there that he met his future bride Lorie. After a courtship that required him to improve his failing grades (he got straight A’s that semester!), they married in the fall of 1960 – and stayed together for the next 62 years.
Bob was a pioneer in the computer industry - after leaving the Coast Guard he started with Sperry Rand, then with Arthur Young, and later headed up systems for AFSA student loan processing company, before finally being President of his own software firm, Compcare Services in Long Beach, CA. Retirement finally beckoned and he sold the company to his employees so he and Lorie could move to greener fairways in Arizona living - which didn’t end up improving his golf game much.
He is survived by Lorie and their three children Ann Barnes (David) of San Ramon CA, Shelton Waggener (Julia) of Oakland CA, and Lincoln Waggener (Susie) of Mission Viejo CA. and their eight grandchildren. Additionally he and Lorie were thrilled to have invited into their home some 14 international exchange students, many of whom became a true part of the family including Tracey and Sam (Australia), Eric (Argentina), Kai (Germany), Lukas (Brazil) and Leiko (Japan).
Bob and Lorie loved to travel and they explored the world together. Hosting so many exchange students meant even when not traveling he got to experience the world every night at talks around the dinner table. He loved to tell stories and have long conversations on the many road trips to the Grand Canyon, a mandatory trip for every exchange student.
Bob’s self-deprecating humor; superior intellect; incredibly bad comedic timing, his love of games (any board game if the kids were involved, as well as Poker, Golf, Tennis, Ping Pong, Billiards, Bocci Ball; and of course, Monday morning quarterbacking for his beloved Dallas Cowboys!); his ability to be such a good sport when we all teased him; and most of all, his immense love for his family, will all be missed by everyone who knew him.
We are putting together a video tribute of Bob’s life to share with his family and encourage you to leave a story or two at https://www.tribute.co/bob-waggener/
Celebration of Bob’s Life to be held on Sunday, March 26th at 1:00 PM at:
The Fairview Room at The Creekside Clubhouse in Rossmoor
1010 Stanley Dollar Drive
Walnut Creek, California 94595
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Waggener, please visit our floral store.