- Date Of Birth: July 18, 1936
- Date Of Death: January 11, 2008
- State: Montana
Robert “Bob” Lloyd Tafoya, age 71, passed away on Friday, January 11, 2008 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana, after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob was born in Pasadena, California on July 18, 1936 the son of Anthony and Eva (Melichar) Tafoya.
Bob attended school in Vallejo, California and South Gate, California where he graduated from High School. He was a gifted athlete since he was a young boy and excelled in all sports, his love for baseball being the greatest. Bob was an avid fisherman all his life and passed these passions on to his sons and grandsons.
Bob joined the Marines upon completing high school and served time in Korea and was then transferred to Honolulu, Hawaii, to play football for the Marine Corp. After receiving his Honorable Discharge, Bob attended Fresno State College on a football scholarship. He then played baseball for the Kansas City minor league team. After returning to South Gate, Bob met his future wife, Colleen Carlyle and they married on September 25, 1959.
Bob joined the Los Angeles Police Department, where he served for 20 years before retiring as a Detective III with the LAPD. He then worked for the Los Angeles Superior Court and was a Juvenile Court Judge until his retirement from that position.
Bob and Colleen raised three sons, Daniel, Jeffrey and Richard. Bob was very involved in his son’s activities, primarily little league baseball and Boy Scouts. The family did a lot of camping and the highlights of their lives were coming to Montana every summer where Colleen was born and raised. They vacationed at the home on Indian Bay.
Prior to moving to Montana, Bob and Colleen lived in Highlands Ranch, CO, where Bob worked for the Colorado Division of Fish and Wildlife. Bob retired for the final time and he and Colleen moved to Kalispell where their sons, Jeff and Richard reside. Bob has enjoyed fishing and hunting with his sons and grandsons. Bob’s family was the most important thing in his life and they were all gathered around him at the time of his passing on to God’s Heavenly Home.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife Colleen Tafoya of Kalispell, MT, his 3 sons: Daniel Tafoya and wife Shirley and their 2 children, Cameron and Ruby of Tustin, CA; Jeff Tafoya and 3 children, Jeffrey, Jessica and Grant all of Kalispell, MT; and Richard Tafoya also of Kalispell, MT; with grandson Alan Tafoya and wife Chelse and great grandson Ayden live in Lakeside, MT. Bob is also survived by 1 sister: Dolores Nicola and husband Nick of Nampa, ID; 1 brother: David Tafoya and wife Jody of Seal Beach, CA also 2 nephews and 3 nieces.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Bob’s family.
