Robert Leroy "Bob" Hollingsworth

Robert Leroy "Bob" Hollingsworth was born May 31, 1919 into a hard-working family in Maricopa, CA. The formative years of his childhood coincided with the Great Depression and in order to provide for the family, his father Bill moved them to wherever there was work, sometimes traveling thousands of miles and even across the border into Canada. Bob ultimately attended a total of 19 different schools. The family eventually made their way back into Kern County, where Bob graduated from Taft High School in 1937 and where his father and brothers started an oil well service business. Shortly thereafter he met the love of his life, Helen Shirley Campbell. After serving his country in WWII, Bob returned to Bakersfield with a strong desire to provide two things for his wife and growing family, financial security and roots in a community that they could call home. Bob did, in fact, spend his remaining years in Bakersfield. Life took an unexpected turn, however, when both his beloved Shirley, who was only 37, and his father, Bill, died within two weeks of each other in 1958. With three young children to tend to, he left the family business, opting instead to start a new career in the insurance industry. This ensured that he would be able to get the children he loved to school on time, and that he would be home at night to take care of them. Bob continued tc sell insurance until his retirement at age 65.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; his parents, Lucy and Bill Hollingsworth; his oldest daughter, Patricia Doreauk; his brothers, Stanley and Chester Hollingsworth; and his sister-in-law, Dorothy Hollingsworth. Bob is survived by two children, Steve (Linda) Hollingsworth of Bakersfield and Beth (Gary) Hahn of Long Beach. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Steve (Kelly) Hollingsworth of San Diego, Lori (Bryan) Brockett of San Marcos, Kristen Kurz of Studio City, Joshua (Nickol) Kurz of Copperopolis, CA, Robert (Kim) Doreauk of Raleigh, NC, Lisa Stallingsworth of Goldsboro, NC and Tammi (Michael) Cartwright of Macon, GA. Together his grandchildren have also given him 13 greatgrandchildren: Zachary, Grace, Griffin and Luke Hollingsworth, Samantha Brockett, Emma Kurz, Isabella and Luke Doreauk, Jennifer Johnson and Joshua Bass, and Michael, Peter and Rebekah Cartwright.

We his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren wish to wholeheartedly thank him for the decisions he made and the sacrifices he endured. He has bestowed upon us the greatest treasures of life, his love and a genuine sense of happiness and family. His body will be reunited with his great love, Shirley, and his family will have a short memorial ceremony, on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at Greenlawn Cemetery on River Blvd. in Bakersfield at 1:30 p.m. The family would like to thank the staff of Optimal Hospice for their invaluable assistance during Bob's last months, particularly his nurses, Lisa and Tonya. We also wish to thank Sandra Dutton, a super caregiver who made his last days so much more comfortable. We ask that anyone who wishes to honor Bob make a donation to Optimal Hospice of Bakersfield in lieu of flowers. Robert L. Hollingsworth May 31, 1919 - July 21, 2008

Robert Leroy "Bob" Hollingsworth, son of William J. of John W. of Harbin of Abraham

Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 7/24/2008