Robert William Cromer

August 03, 1942 - April 29, 2009

Robert William Cromer Obituary Robert William Cromer, age 66, of Vienna, VA, was called home to the presence of his Heavenly Father Wednesday, April 29, 2009 after a long and courageous fight with cancer. He was born August 3, 1942 in Boise, Idaho and was a longtime resident of Spokane Washington. He will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by his wife, Justine Cromer, and his two stepsons, Alexander and Nicholas Nelson, ages 12 and 14 respectively. He was a devoted and compassionate husband and father, who equally touched the people in his work and neighborhoods with a charisma matched by none. As the middle child of eleven, he is survived by his ten siblings ? brothers Leon (Spokane, WA), Don (Fallbrook, CA), Alvis Jr. (Rocklin, CA), Gary (Coeur d'Alene, ID), Ken (Calgary, Canada), John (Grand Rapids, MI), Jack (Palm Springs, CA), Jim (Mooresville, NC), David (Renton, WA), and the youngest of the Cromer children, his sister Valeta Pariseau (Spokane, WA). After graduating from Lewis & Clark High School (Spokane, 1960), he attended Washington State University and was an avid Cougar fan and Sigma Chi Fraternity brother. Many remember him as the proud owner of the ever-popular Cougar Cottage, a.k.a. ?The Coug? in Pullman, WA, and will be remembered there with a memorial plaque. He served our country well as a Washington Air National Guard reservist (1961-1967) and led a distinguished career in sales and management, with Northwestern Mutual Life, Arden Farms, and 25 years at Darigold Farms until retiring in 2003. Family was at the heart and soul of Bob, and he enjoyed spending time with all he loved. He had a special gift with children and treated all of his many nieces and nephews with a special love that is usually left for one?s own. Since relocating to Massachusetts and Virginia for his most challenging job as the domestic dad, he continued to inspire dozens of neighborhood parents, children, schools, and athletic teams with his never-ending, ?can-do? attitude, support and optimism. He also changed the lives of many as an advocate and supporter of organizations and charities in the Great Inland Northwest, to include the Coeur d'Alene Lions Club (Member, l977-78), Kennewick Lions Club (Member/President, 1980-85), WSU Cougar Club, Spokane (Member/President, 1985-1995), Spokane Restaurant Association (Member, President), City of Hope and Ronald McDonald House. Though many remember him as the quintessential golfer and dancer, his bouts with leukemia and lymphoma since 2005 led him to focus on quieter activities in his house and home ? raising two remarkable sons, loving his wife Justine, and having the most enviable yard in the neighborhood. He will always be remembered as a selfless, loving man, and a priceless gift to his family and friends. He?s at peace now with the Lord and will be greatly missed. His family would like to extend special thanks to the many doctors and nurses at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Seattle), Dana Farber (Boston), Lombardi Cancer Center (Georgetown), Washington Cancer Institute (D.C.) and the National Institute of Health (Bethesda), who treated Bob and his family with compassion and courage over his four-year battle. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 16th, 12:00 p.m. at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1502 West 8th Avenue, Spokane, WA, followed by a Service of Committal with military honors at 1:15 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Terrace, 211 North Government Way, Spokane, WA. ?Celebration of Life?, invitation-only gatherings will be held on May16th in Spokane, WA (Spokane Club) and May 30th in Falls Church, VA (Ireland?s Four Provinces). If you are a friend or family member of Bob?s and would like to join us for either of these events, please email celebratebobcromer@gmail.com with your request. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor his courageous fight with blood cancers by donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, for the National Capital Area Chapter, in memory of Robert Cromer.