Robert Danforth Walser, 81, died at Evanston Regional Hospital on Saturday morning, April 19, after a short illness.
He was born to Robert and Doris Walser and lived many years in Ohio. In addition, Bob traveled to and lived in many places, as his dad was a career Army officer. Bob even talked about living in Africa.
Bob graduated from the Virginia Military Academy of Lexington, Virginia. He moved to Utah with his father shortly after graduation as his dad worked at Thiokol Chemical Corporation, a company which provided rocket booster parts for the U.S. Space Program, north of Salt Lake City.
While living in Utah, Bob married. He and his wife, Sue, had four children — Danny, Robyn, Robert and Deon. They later divorced.
While married, they moved to Montana, where Bob worked in the lumber industry. The family later moved to Fort Bridger, then Lyman. After moving to Bridger Valley, Bob drove a dump truck while working on the construction of I-80 between Fort Bridger and Evanston. He talked about a wild, hair-raising ride going down the back of Bigelow when the brakes of the loaded truck failed.
After settling in Lyman, Bob worked in the warehouse of one of the trona mines east of Bridger Valley. His next employment step was being the regional division manager in Rock Springs for the Central Pipe Company of Colorado. Opting not to move to the central office in Colorado, Bob took another career move and was hired as a police officer for the Town of Lyman, where he worked for many years.
While working for the Lyman Police Department, Bob was the firearms instructor for the department. In addition, he served on the Uinta County Search and Rescue Department for many years, continuing this service even after he retired from the Lyman Police Department.
Bob was a member of St. Helen's Catholic Church in Fort Bridger and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; mother, Doris Baniewicz; father and stepmother, Robert and Coleen Walser; son, Danny; and uncle, Dan Walser.
Bob is survived by his longtime close friend, Virginia Giorgis, Fort Bridger; longtime friend, Jay Parro, Evanston; two sons, Robert and Deon; daughter, Robyn; and sister, Linda. He was also close to the Giorgis family of Fort Bridger for many years, and Cecil Sanderson of Mountain View.
Funeral services were Tuesday, April 29, 11 a.m., at St. Helen's Catholic Church in Fort Bridger, with a vigil/rosary ceremony Monday evening, April 28, at 6 p.m. followed by a police escort from Evanston in tribute for Bob's many years working as a police officer. Internment was in the Fort Bridger Cemetery.
If wishing to make a remembrance, make donations to St. Helen's Catholic Church or the Knights of Columbus.
