Person:Robert McLuen (1)

Robert Ward "Buffalo Bob" McLuen, of Mountain View and Groveland, died May 29 at a convalescent hospital in Sunnyvale. He was 75. He was born in Perry, Iowa. When he was 7, the family moved to Los Angeles, where he lived until his graduation from high school. He joined the Navy in 1952 in San Diego and was transferred to Norman, Okla., to attend Naval Aviation Metalsmith School. While there, he met his wife of 56 years, Janie Strickland. They were married in January 1953. He served on the aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Kearsarge during the Korean War and at the Naval Air Station in San Diego. Upon completion of his service, he attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a degree in mechanical engineering. He was hired by Olivetti Corp. in 1960 and served in sales management positions throughout the western United States. In 1976, he moved to a senior sales position at Digital Equipment Corp. in Santa Clara. He retired in 1992 and moved with his wife to Groveland, where he pursued many hobbies and interests, including knifemaking, metal work, woodworking, playing tennis and cribbage, and his dog Boonus. He is survived by his wife Janie of Mountain View and Groveland, his brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Fran McLuen, of Long Beach; daughters, Cindy Sauln and her husband Allan, of Palo Alto, Charlotte Brown and her husband Kevin, of Milpitas, and Mary Buchanan and her partner, Alan Vidlund, of Newark; four grandchildren, and numerous extended family members. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. June 20 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto. A celebration of life reception will be held at 4 p.m. June 24 at the Pine Mountain Lake Country Club in Groveland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of choice.

Robert Ward McLuen Aug. 4, 1933 - May 29, 2009 Robert Ward McLuen of Mountain View and Groveland, CA. passed away on May 29th, 2009 at the age of 75. He was born in Perry, Iowa and at the age of seven his family moved to Los Angeles, CA. where he lived until he graduated from high school. Bob joined the Navy in 1952 in San Diego and was transferred to Norman, OK to attend Naval Aviation Metalsmith school. While there, he met his bride of 56 years, Janie Strickland, and they were married in January 1953. Bob served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kearsarge during the Korean War and at the Naval Air Station in San Diego, CA. Upon completion of his service, he attended the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. He was hired by Olivetti Corporation in 1960, and served in sales management positions throughout the Western United States. In 1978, he left Olivetti for a senior sales position at Digital Equipment Corporation in Santa Clara, CA. Bob retired from sales in1992, and moved with his wife Janie to Groveland, CA. where he pursued his many hobbies and interests, including knifemaking, metal work, woodworking and playing tennis and cribbage. He is survived by his wife Janie, his brother Charles McLuen (Fran), his daughters Cindy Sauln (Allan), Charlotte Brown (Kevin) and Mary Buchanan (Alan Vidlund) and his dog Boonus. He also loved and is survived by his nephews, nieces, brothers and sisters-in-law, and their families in Southern California and Oklahoma as well as his 3 granddaughters and 1 grandson in the Bay Area. Arrangements were made by Cusimano Family Colonial Mortuary in Mt. View. Memorial Services will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 670 E. Meadow Drive in Palo Alto on June 20th at 3pm. A celebration of life reception will be held at the Pine Mountain Lake Country Club in Groveland, CA on June 24th at 4pm. All friends are welcome to attend either event. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to The Buffalo Bob Memorial Fund, 121 Post St., Mt. View, CA., 94040 or the charity of your choice.
Published in San Jose Mercury News on June 12, 2009.
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