Robert William Carlson, 87, a resident of Freeland, passed away on Feb. 17, 2004. He was born in Salina, Kan., on Feb. 12, 1917. He played in a band as a road musician in his twenties in California, and continued to express himself through music all his life — in light opera, as a vocal soloist, as a multi-instrumentalist, and in several churches as a choir director. He married his beloved Lucy in 1959 and they moved with son Lucy’s Rick and Siamese cat Tao to Whidbey Island in 1967. There, they adopted a son, Ronald Jack Carlson. The couple remained together on Whidbey until Lucy’s death in 2002.

As a Californian, he loved taking the family on car trips to the far corners of the United States. Upon moving to rural Washington, he enjoyed keeping his motley collection of farm animals, and became an accomplished vegetable gardener and fruit arborist.

Mr. Carlson worked for many years as a salesman and later in the aerospace industry for Lockheed and Boeing. On Whidbey Island, he managed a restaurant in Clinton and also started the senior food program covering South Whidbey.

He is survived by his sons, Rick and Gary; step-children, Diane, Ron, and Rick; and son Ron. He also leaves two brothers, Gilbert and Philip, in California and Colorado, respectively, as well as 12 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donations in memory of Bob Carlson may be sent or delivered to the South Whidbey Senior Center, or to the charity of your choice.