The Pasco Community lost a giant. Robert H. Booth passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. He was born October 24, 1972, in Pasco, Washington to Robert and Rose Booth. He attended school locally at Ruth Livingston Elementary, McLoughlin Middle School and Pasco High School. He went on to play college football at Washington State University from 1991-1996 and was a member of the infamous Palouse Posse – GO COUGS! He earned his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from WSU, his teaching certificate from Heritage University, and his master's degree in education from Grand Canyon University. His professional experience included teaching at Ochoa Middle School, Pasco High School, Marie Curie Elementary, Emerson Elementary, McLoughlin Middle School, and most recently at Ray Reynolds Middle School.

In 1996, Rob reconnected with his long-time friend and fellow coug Becky Hawes and they were later married on April 10, 1999. He and Becky were a match that nobody truly understood until they saw them together. Complete opposites, they used their strengths to better one another. He will forever be the absolute love of Becky's life and he passed during their most loving years. Together they raised the four best kids on the planet: Jordan, Madison, Jack, and Hayden. Nothing brought him more joy than his kids and they are his very best gift to the world. He loved to watch their games, embarrass them around their friends by singing as loud as he could, off-key and literally every wrong lyric. He could often be found giving dad advice, reminding them how to do it the "right" way, or fixing whatever they broke. He showed Jordan, Madi, and Hayden what it means to be strong, loyal, and loved unconditionally. He taught Jack to be a miniature version of himself. Honest (sometimes brutally), strong, faithful, and available. Those who knew Rob well will always remember that he would drop anything at any time to help anyone. He was truly the very best man.

Family meant everything to Rob. His Booth family was known for showing up. They came to every activity, every time. There was never any doubt of their admiration for the big guy. He loved his friends like family as well and was so proud to call you all friends. Listing the names of his friends and how amazing they all are to him is far too long of a list. He just never considered anyone a stranger and loved to chat people up. Those who knew him well know he was who he was without apologies. We loved him all the more for it.

Rob was a very talented man who was best known for his athletic achievements but was so much more. As a professional, he loved to teach PE and Health and touched countless lives along the way. He spent weekends finding new games to try with the students and loved to test those out with his own kids. He has always worked with the best teachers through the years and made some pretty terrific friends. As a coach, he had a tremendous passion to mold his student-athletes into stars on the field and into great human beings. Not one to mince words, Rob sought to call them out, then build them back up. He loved his "guys" and got a kick out of following their progress after high school. There was no greater joy in coaching than watching those kids succeed on the field and in life with help from his influence. As an individual, he loved to work with his hands. He was forever building something. Why buy it when he can watch a YouTube video and build it himself? The house and yard are filled with his handy work, and probably a lot of his friends' yards too. He passed this love of tinkering on to his son, Jack, and they were often found together on the weekends taking apart all the motor vehicles (there are many) at the house and figuring out how to fix them together. He watched every college game available and loved to watch Nascar on the weekends at home or with his numerous friends. We will miss the sideline coaching and persistent yelling at the screen. Our house is too quiet without him.

Thank you to all those in our community that dropped everything to help his family during this terrible time. A special thanks to Tammy Plewman who was instrumental in providing support to Becky and to Joe and Shawna Carrasco for their help organizing and keeping the kids busy. To our Pasco family including Ruth Livingston Elementary, thank you for the outpouring of love, support, and way too many groceries. To all the "guys," thank you for the hilarious stories of Rob's misadventures and for the Rob hugs that continue to be a source of tremendous comfort. You guys are the greatest! Can't say enough how proud I am that together, the Rob Booth community helped shape a great man who will leave a lasting legacy on us all.

Services will be held on Friday, November 10th at 2:00pm in the Chiawana High School gym. Please wear CHS, PHS, or WSU gear to honor Rob if you would like.