Robert Alan Peeples

Bob's journey began in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1939 and this part came to a close at his home in the Coachella Valley in May 2014. He had so many memorable experiences along the way and wonderful colleagues and friends who shared various parts of his journey.

Bob met David Lee Bostwick in 1972 in Topeka, Kansas and for the next 36 plus years was privileged to have David as his loving partner. They shared a wonderful journey together. David's career encompassed many different facets of the nursing profession: as a Psychiatric Staff and Charge Nurse; as a Unit Nurse Manager and as an Assistant Director of Nursing at various hospitals in the Chicago area and later in the Los Angeles and Coachella Valley areas.

Bob graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Business Degree. A few days later, in June 1962, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force. Bob piloted tanker aircraft (KC 97's, used for mid-air refueling of other planes) from McGuire AFB in New Jersey and Goose Bay Labrador, Canada. He also piloted cargo transport planes (C124's) between Hill AFB in Utah and Vietnam and photo reconnaissance aircraft (C130's) within Vietnam during the war. In 1970 his last posting flying C130's was to Forbes AFB in Topeka, Kansas, where he left the Air Force.

Shortly thereafter, Bob began his 31 year career with Xerox Corporation. He spent several successful years in sales in Topeka, Kansas City and Chicago, where he brought in many new business clients and earned several significant awards for sales volume and excellent client service. Bob accepted an advancement opportunity into marketing management with Xerox in January 1979 that brought him to Santa Monica, California. Bob's work providing sales research and strategy was key to the market segments that Xerox was so successful in during his tenure. His time with Xerox coincided with the golden age for the company and Bob was a critical element of that success.

He so enjoyed the desert and the relaxed pace of life in the Coachella Valley. In 1982, he purchased a second home as a get-away for week-ends and vacations. In early 2001 he had the opportunity to take an early-retirement package and by mid-year had begun the next part of his journey as a full-time desert resident.

Bob was known as "the Voice" because of his rich and full voice. People often said he should use it for radio or TV. His smile would light up a room and his clear blue eyes always sparkled. He had an unwavering positive attitude about people and life. Colleagues describe him as "a fine and highly principled person" who "brightened the day for many people around him" and as "one of the truly kindest, classiest and finest people that I have ever met in my life". He was always interested in and an avid user of all electronic technology and communication devices. He loved to travel and did a good deal of domestic and international travel for business. His pleasure travel, among other places, took him to Hawaii, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Switzerland, as well as to Maine (but never in the winter), Chicago and Kansas to visit friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his partner, David Bostwick; David's brother, John Bostwick; and sister, Beverly Alford. Bob is survived by his sister, Jo Ann Peeples; David's sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Paul Shipman; and David's sister-in-law, Marjorie Bostwick.

For those who wish, a donation can be made in Bob's name to either of the following organizations he cared about and supported:

Wounded Warrior Project, National Processing Center, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8517. The web site is woundedwarriorproject.org. Business address is 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Animal Samaritans, PO Box 513, Thousand Oaks, CA 92276, Web site address is animalsamaritans.org and their phone number is 760-343-3477. They are a no-kill shelter.