Robert Alden Ruggles, 94 will be greatly missed for his larger than life love of each and every one of us and his ability to never complain and always keep a positive attitude. Bob went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. He died in the comfort of the family home he built in 1963.

Bob was born in Toppenish, WA, December 6, 1929. He was the fourth of seven children, and moved to Hobart, WA where he spent most of his early years. He helped his dad build his family home on Hazelwood Hill in Auburn, before enlisting in the US Air Force where he served from 1947-1951 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, WA as a Staff Sergeant. He later moved to Richland before settling in Kennewick where he went on to build three more homes in his spare time while working as a Fireman at Hanford, WA.

He met his soulmate, Vonnie at Orange Julius, marrying March 5, 1977 and celebrating 47 years together. We are forever grateful to Vonnie for her unselfish devotion to Bob and the 24/7 care she provided him that allowed him to live his best life to the very end.

Bob was an avid builder and mechanic. He enjoyed nice cars, all sorts of music, (mostly loud), boating & fishing, building a bird house condominium, fashionable eye wear, collecting watches and wall clocks, and working on Volkswagens and Dune Buggies. He loved hosting large family gatherings in the back yard with swimming pool where everyone was always welcome, providing a way to keep the family close to one another. Family is what Bob valued most in life as evidenced by the large picture wall in the living room with photos spanning five generations of family members. His extended family all lived on the west side of the state, and he always looked forward to attending the family reunions that began at the Auburn home in 1947 with relatives from Canada and all over the states, and they became an annual event each August, in Ocasta, WA. It is there that he found his forever love of the oyster.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Beatrice Ruggles, his brothers Justin and Norman Ruggles, his sisters Nedra Erickson, Jerine Hope and Mary Ann Cool. He is survived by his wife, LaVonne, sister, Shirley Baker, son, Paul (Kathy) Ruggles, daughter, Pamela (Dave) Barber, step-children: Rick (Michelle) Ennis, Kathy (Gary) Gardner, Steve (Karen) Ennis and Kelly (Mike) Johnston, 14+ grandchildren and 24+ great grandchildren.

Bob left his imprint on all that knew him, and we know that if he were here with us today, he would tell each of us that "he loves us to pieces!"……and we shall forever treasure the memory of his happy voice when he would sing each of us our annual Happy Birthday song.