Birth date: Jul 3, 1917 Death date: Jul 15, 2011
Robert was born on July 3, 1917 and passed away on Friday, July 15, 2011.Robert was a resident of San Leandro, California. Read Obituary
Best loving man we have ever known.We will miss him.
Jack (is the name we knew him by) Jack told this story at the first family reunion we had. "When I was born, my parents were expecting a daughter, they had only picked out a girls name. On my birth certificate it read Boy Hiner. I was called baby. Aunt Mill said, "That child has to have a name, and until you can decide on a name, I am going to call him Jack." Which she did and the family did. When I was 18 and left home to go to college, I felt it was time to have my birth certificate changed. I had taken my father's name of Robert." His Dad had died when he was only 16 months old, having his father's name meant somuch to him. Jack was such a nice man, and yes he did aways have a twinkle in his eye. He was all the things I value in a person. I got to know Jack and Martha at the family reunions. I will be among the many you will miss him.
My Mom and Dad moved to California from Texas when I was an infant. Their marriage did not survive the tumultuous years of WWII so my Mother thought it best that she and I to return to Texas. Although I grew up in Fort Worth and have lived in Texas ever since, Dad and I continued to be in communication by mail and phone, and traded personal visits every year or so. Some flash memories include him sending a dollar for every "A" when I was in grade school, me taking him for a ride on the back of my motor scooter when I was a paper boy, him leg wrestling me on his living room floor, him taking me to San Francisco Seals baseball games, introducing him to my Texas-talking teenage wife (now together with me for 50 years), he attending the high school graduation of Julie, his first grandchild, he and I driving my second daughter Shelley to her Air Force assignment at Vandenberg Air Force Base, he watching his grandson Brian pitch in a little league baseball game, he and his wife Martha missing the great Bay area earthquake because they were visiting us at the time…There are many, many memories. It wasn't ideal living apart. That's one of the penalties of a broken family. But even though I didn't grow up in his house, he was my father. He cared. That meant a lot to me, my wife, his grandchildren, and his four great grandchildren. I visited him in the hospital in May, and his grandson, Brian, and Brian's wife, had a long beside conversation with him at the assisted living center about three weeks ago. On each occasion, he had the same clear headed intelligence he had always had. He was a fine man. We will all miss him. Robert L. Hiner, Jr.
I will always remember and treasure our visits with Dad and Martha. We went out to visit as often as we could. Martha cooked great meals. Dad was always ready with a plan to take us sightseeing or visiting with other relatives. These vacations were so memorable and special. We will miss the lovely conversations we have had on the phone the last few years with Dad.
I loved Bob he was such a sweet man and had a twinkle in his eye, we found out that my husband's Great uncle Bob and his family lived near us when my husband was doing some genealogy research that was about 12 years ago and Bob and Martha welcomed us into the family we loved spending holidays and visiting and were able to see him at the Carlton Plaza a month or so before he died . What a blessing he was and he will be missed ! He loved our children too and we will all miss him. I am Happy he will be rejoining Martha in Heaven!God bless you you dear sweet man !
When I think of my childhood some of my favorite memories are the summers I spent with my grandpa. I would play baseball all day with friends and then come 5pm would go on walks with grandpa along with Blue (his dog at the time). These walks were awesome. I got to talk to my grandpa about my dreams and he was very supportive of them. Telling me to work hard and practice at whatever I wanted to do in order to make it happen. Advice I live by everyday.Over the years I haven't been able to see Grandpa as much as I would like to as my job has me working close to 60 hours a week. But several weeks ago my wife Jeana and I were able to visit him at the Carlton Plaza. It was a week before his 93rd birthday and he was still sharp as whip. He hadn't lost any of his sense of humor and we had a great conversation. He spent a lot of time talking about missing Martha and how much he missed her. I mentioned to him that one of the things I picked up from him was that regardless if there is a special occasion I never will have a cocktail before 5pm. Because I remember the rule in his house was the bar doesn't open until 5. He laughed and said that it was Martha's rule to him.It was a great visit. I wish I would have stayed longer as I had a feeling he was at peace and ready to be reunited with Martha. My Grandpa, Robert Leroy Hiner was a great man and will be forever missed.I look forward to celebrating my birthday and grandpa's life on the 6th of August.
