Robert "Bob" Combs Baum

Robert "Bob" Combs Baum, 85, formerly of Union County, died Oct. 20 at his daughter Michele's home in Bend with family by his side, after battling a recurrence of cancer.

A celebration of life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Oregon 4-H Center, Gray Hall, 5390 4-H Road N.W., Salem. Private burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery. Visit www.bobbaum.com for details and to share memories.

Robert was born March 23, 1925, to Raymond and Frankie Baum in La Grande. He grew up in Union County in a family of eight children. Siblings Oreta Baxter, Chester, Jean Hutchinson, Betty Lee, David, Richard and Frank preceded him in death.

Robert, David and Richard used to sing and learned to harmonize while they milked cows on the farm. He taught himself to yodel. He sang and yodeled at many family occasions as well as many conferences and community events.

After graduating as valedictorian at Union High School where he was active in sports, he entered the Navy for two and a half years, training as a naval air cadet. Following the end of WWII, Robert enrolled at Oregon State College (now University) where he was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and where he earned a degree in agricultural economics. He was a lifelong supporter of OSU and always enjoyed cheering on the Beavers.

He met his future wife, Phyllis Hinsdale, on a blind date set up by good friends Betty and Don O'Neil. They married on Aug. 22, 1948. They settled in Salem in 1956 where they raised three daughters.

Robert worked 41 years in the field of soil and water conservation, including 19 years as director of the Oregon State Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and 20 years as Pacific Region Representative of the National Association of Conservation Districts, covering seven states. He served on many local, state and national advisory boards. In retirement he stayed involved by managing national NACD conventions for many years.

He was awarded the American Motors National Conservation Award and the Distinguished Service Award of the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts.

His travels took him to all 50 states and five continents.

Volunteerism and friends were very important to Bob. Many of his activities since retirement centered around the Salem Family YMCA and Y Service Club. He remained active with the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Oregon 4-H Center and Camp Grieder until a couple of months before his death. He was a member of the Keizer Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Bob loved spending time with family and neighbors, golfing with friends, striking up a conversation with most anyone and gardening - which showed in the beautiful yard he kept.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife in 2006.

He is survived by his daughters, Bonnie Finley and her husband, Mike, of Prineville, Susan Ziolko and her husband, Mike, of Oregon City and Michele Gwinup and her husband, Michael, of Bend; American Field Service daughter, Kim Phat Trieu and her husband, Binh, of Belgium; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Salem YMCA, 685 Court NE, Salem, 97301; Partners in Care (Bend Hospice), 2075 NE Wyatt Court, Bend 97701; Union County Museum, P.O. Box 190, Union 97883; Oregon 4-H Center, 5390 4-H Road N.W., Salem; or LDS Humanitarian Fund in care of Bishop Michael Jones, 4275 Batting St NE, Keizer 97303.

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