Ronnie Joe Van Bebber, 72, of Salinas, California passed away on October 12, 2014. Ronnie was born to John and Maxine Van Bebber on October 23, 1941 in Comanche Oklahoma; he was the fourth of seven siblings. His family soon moved to Brawley California, where he grew up. Drafted in the early sixties, he went to basic training in Fort Ord, California and served in Germany.
Ronnie met his wife, Bobbi (nee Stafford), in a produce shed in Yuma, Arizona. They became engaged 2 weeks after their first date and married in September 1968. They just celebrated 46 years together.
Known for his friendliness and his fairness, he spent his entire career in produce, including Safeway, Topco, Salinas Lettuce Farmers Co-Op, Border Harvesting, and most recently Pacific Gold Farms. Ronnie was easy to like, fun to be around, and knowledgeable on many topics, always providing honest and animated perspectives on current events and history.
He and Bobbi enjoyed many hobbies and spent many hours – and years – creating and painting woodworking projects and working on their home. Every year he planned our family vacation, he has driven all over the United States with kids and grandkids in tow. Some of the best memories are of fishing and family vacations He also enjoyed travelling to Bobbi’s horse shows where he would barbeque for everyone. He loved watching his grandchildren’s sporting events, always there to cheer them on.
His loss will be felt forever by those who survive him, including his wife Bobbi Van Bebber, his son Brett ( Kris) and daughter Brenna (Adam) Linder and grandchildren Duncan, Malcolm and Janell Van Bebber and Quincey and Collin Linder. He is also survived by all his brothers and sister; John Mack (Alice), Gayle (Tommy) Brown, Thomas (Carolyn), Gene (Betty), Dean, and Rodney (lyn). He also has many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held at Struve & Laporte on Saturday November 1 at 11:00
Reception to follow at The Grower’s Pub.
Source: Adam.Linder, CHEP