Robert E. Betz passed away on June 24, 2007, at the age of 74.
He is survived by his loving wife, Susan; children, Archie, Bobby and Tina Betz; step-children, Linda (TJ) Taylor, Rick (Marie) Coen and Ed (KC) Lucido; sisters, Imogene Betz, Dorothy Herbert, Laura (Bob) Mitchell and Louise (Howard) Sumnicht; grandchildren, Crystal, Waylon, Kristen, Joe, Jacqueline, Bobby III, Travis, Kyle, Carina, Tiffinny, Matthew, Ryan, Nicole, Trinity, George, Mikaila, Dante, Dominic, and Diovanni; many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many longtime close friends.
He was preceded in death by his son, Ron Coen and brother, Jim Betz.
Robert was born in Palmyra, Mo., and moved to Dallas, Texas with his parents. He graduated from the 8th grade and at age 14, he and his life-long best friend, Archie Smith, started their early careers working together carrying ladies” packages to their cars after they had been shopping at Nieman Marcus in Dallas. He traveled through the U.S. and settled in Los Angeles, where he worked construction with his father.
He served in the Korean War and received an Honorable Discharge after two years of service.
He became a general contractor and was licensed in both California and Arizona. Bob semi-retired in Clearlake in 1979 and became an entrepreneur, owning and operating the Caravan Lounge and Quik Cash. He continued to work in the construction industry, recently completing a spec house in Clearlake. All of his businesses were extremely successful.
Bob touched many lives, and there was no one that didn”t appreciate his sense of humor and good nature.
A memorial service will be held in Bob”s memory at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 5 at the Clearlake Elks Lodge on Crawford Ave. and Old Highway 53. For those sending flowers, plants are appreciated, as they can be planted in Bob”s backyard, where he enjoyed watching wildlife and enjoying nature.
Family requests any donations be made to the American Cancer Society, specifically concerning the research of Small Cell Lung Carcinoma.
Jones and Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel, 707-994-6417, www.jonesandlewis.com.
Please sign the guest book at www.record-bee.com. Click “Obituaries.”
(Published in the Record-Bee on Saturday, June 30, 2007.)
