Robert Allen Lemmon

Robert Allen Lemmon, of Escondido California, passed away Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at the age of 97. He died peacefully with his son, Robert Jr., by his side. Robert was born February 6, 1924, in Columbus, Ohio, to father Alexis William Lemmon and mother Gladys Lester Lemmon. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carole, his parents, and his elder brother Alexis William Lemmon Jr.

He is survived by his 6 children, Molly Cromwell, Robert Jr., Jane Marshall, Kisha Tate, Kelly Kelley, and Kate DeLavan, and his stepsons, Dennis Rast, Greg Rast, and Louis Rast. There is a total of 25 grandchildren and a growing list of great grandchildren. Additionally, there are 6 nephews and nieces, Linda, Lex III, Susan, Jeffrey, Todd and Tracy.

Robert served in the US Army, primarily as a baker, during WWII in Europe. For recreation with a bunch of his buddies, he formed and led a band playing bass fiddle. Soon after returning to the States he married Sally Ann Starr. They had 6 children.

He attended The Ohio State University where he earned a BS in Education in 1950, and an MA in Education in 1954. In 1967 he received an Education Doctorate in Special Education from Colorado State College in Greeley, Colorado (University of Northern Colorado).

In 1951 Robert began his career in education in Worthington, Ohio. This was followed by several other positions in Upper Arlington, Painesville, Cleveland Heights (all in Ohio), Rockville Maryland, and finally in Fullerton, California, at California State College Fullerton (California State University Fullerton). For 23 years his area of instruction was Special Education. He also served as Associate Dean, and Director of Admission and Advisement.

In 1970 he and wife Sally were divorced. But in 1977 He was led to a faith in Jesus Christ by Gary Bobo, the pastor at Bonsall Community Church, a life-altering event. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship, and even when Gary moved to Montana, he and Gary remained in continual communication. Their acquaintance began when a love for woodworking and antiques led to a new vocation at the Ranch Acres Antique Mall in Bonsall, maybe a mile and a half from the Bonsall church.

Robert was a renaissance man, with a range of skills too numerous to list. He drafted blueprints for houses he either built or remodeled. He did framing, wiring, plumbing, and on and on. There was no house he purchased which he didn’t leave his mark on. And it was not just the structures but the furniture in them too.

In the mid 1980’s he met Carole Rast. They shared a love of Jesus, and antiques & collectibles. They were married September 20, 1986, and spent the following 33+ years together till Carole succumbed to cancer in 2020. They loved travelling and took several sea cruises, as well as many road trips with their travel trailer. Carole brought her love of family into the marriage along with her son, Louis, and eventually his family too. Although she referred to herself as the “WSM” (wicked step-mother), she was anything but. She added years of life to Robert, and was richly beloved by the entire clan.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Hillsdale College.