Robert Harold Dow

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Robert "Bob" Dow, of Salem and formerly of La Grande, died November 5, 2003. At his request there will be no service.

Bob was born June 12, 1921 and was raised in La Grande. His parents were Harold and Anna Dow.

Although he weighed a mere 135 lbs in high school, he was a mighty guard and tackle for the La Grande High School Tigers, earning himself the nickname "Rowdy Dow". And despite significant hearing loss from a childhood illness, Bob was a talented clarinet and saxophone player. With Bob Dow's Dance Band, he brought big band tunes like Stardust and Begin the Beguine to little towns like Halfway and Heppner. He played with Art Holman's Dance Band and with the university pep band while attending the University of Oregon in the 1940's.

His education was interrupted by service with the Army Signal Corps in Europe and Greenland during World War II. He returned home after the war to marry his fiancee, Mary Bohnenkamp and complete his degree in education at U of O. He later attended graduate school at Standford and U of O.

In 1947 he began his teaching career in Salem at Parrish Jr. High, later serving as principal of Parrish and Waldo Jr. High Schools and Liberty Elementary School. He served as president of the OEA Department of Classroom Teachers and later as president of the Oregon Secondary Principal's Association.

An avid golfer and a voracious reader, Bob spent his retirement years indulging in these pastimes. He was known to play a round on hi Salemtowne golf course even when it snowed - used a dayglow orange ball.

In addition to his wife, Mary Gene; he is survived by two daughters, Barbara and Julie and two granddaughters, Sarah and Eleanor Greene, all of Portland.

Memorials may be made to the Salem Library Foundation or the Willamette Valley Hospice.