Robert W. Gage Sr

Farmington
Robert "Bob" W. Gage
Jan. 3, 1933 - Nov. 3, 2015
Robert "Bob" Wilburn Gage, 82, was born on Jan. 3, 1933, in Oakland, Calif. He attended public schools and graduated from Fremont High School in Oakland, graduating in January of 1951. Active in Boy Scouts of America throughout junior high and high school he reached the rank of Star Scout and participated in his Troops leadership functions as Junior Assistant Scout Master. Following High School he attended the University of California at Berkeley but withdrew after four years and enlisted with the U.S. Air Force. During his time at Laredo AFB he was active in the on-base chapel service and played the organ. While there he met his wife, Conception (Connie) Ortiz. They were married on Nov. 30, 1957, and their first child, Walter, was born the next year. Robert left the service in early 1959, and reentered college studies at San Francisco State University, was active in the creation of the SF State Biological Society and received his Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences in 1960. Subsequently he entered graduate studies at SF State but withdrew in order to support his growing family as his daughter, Kathrynn, and his second son, Robert Jr., were born during this time. He entered the workforce as a teacher in the Middletown, Calif. school system and worked summers as a seasonal Park Ranger/Naturalist at Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington State. His third son, Matthew, was born during this time. Robert formally entered the U.S. Park Service, training as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park and assigned to Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos. His fourth and final son, Andrew, was born here. Robert separated from the Park Service in early 1966, and found work in Farmington, as a science teacher at Tibbets Junior High School. He taught at Tibbetts for the next 22 years, educating numerous people throughout the community. Even today, his children constantly encounter his former students who fondly remember "Mr. Gage." While at Farmington he worked as a DJ at KENN radio, and as an on-air weatherman at KIVA-TV, the local NBC affiliate. After retirement from teaching in 1988 he and his wife lived in Stockton, Calif., where he volunteered at a local planetarium, and in Alamogordo where he volunteered extensively at White Sands National Monument. In failing health he and his wife moved back to Farmington to live with his son. Connie passed away the next year and the following year Robert entered Life Care Center of Farmington where he would spend the next eight years, entertaining numerous visitors.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Connie Gage; his parents and his sister, Claudia. He is survived by his sons, Walter (Waukene), Robert Jr., Matthew (Patty) and Andrew (Melody); daughter, Kathryn (Kenny) Pritchett; grandchildren, Robert J. and Christopher L. Gage, Holly Facka, Christine Gage, Megan Rossi, Andrea M. Gage, Levi Gage, Sean Gage, Elizabeth Gage, Tara Stimson and Parisah Beaufils; and 17 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 414 N. Allen Ave. in Farmington. Burial will follow in Memory Gardens, 6917 E. Main St. in Farmington.
Bob's care is entrusted to Alternative Choice Burial and Cremation, 804 N. Dustin Ave. in Farmington, 505-325-9611. Those who wish to express their condolences may do so at serenityandcompany.com.