A Life of Service
Robert Eugene Fickle of Blanco, Texas passed away peacefully on January 27 2001 . He is survived by his wife, Erika Hermean Jurgens Fickle, his children Erich Brent Fickle and wife Luella Martin Fickle, Bobbi Jean Fickle and Susan Victoria Fickle Jones and husband Charles Michael Jones, his grandchildren Justin Rodney Jones and wife Veronica Salazar Jones, Travis Dale Jones, Victoria Anne Jones and Robert Michael Jones, and great-grandchildren Grant Jones and Scout Justin Jones, sons of Justin and Veronica.
Robert Eugene Fickle was born in Burwell, Nebraska on May 25, 1930. His family moved to California during the Dust Bowl Migration. He was raised by his mother, Flossie (Florence Brown Wheatley) and grandmother, Eva Knobel Long. He graduated from Compton High School and proudly served his country in the Navy during the Korean War. Following the war, he attended Compton College where he was president of Alpha Sigma Chi fraternity. There he met the bright and beautiful Erika Hermean Jurgens, with whom he fell in love. They were married on June 9, 1956. Bob and Erika had 3 children, Erich Brent Fickle, BobbiJean Fickle and Susan Victoria Fickle Jones, who are forever grateful to have been raised by the best dad ever. He taught his children the values of always learning new things, working hard, having a generous heart and living and laughing well. He loved hosting amazing parties for friends and family, travel, the outdoors, photography, theater, agriculture and genealogy.
Bob was a police officer in Compton, CA and Huntington Beach, CA during the unrest of the Sixties. During the 1970s he was instrumental in developing a modern, computerized communications system with Motorola Corporation for the HBPD. After he retired from the police department in 1980, he worked for Southern California Edison company and helped develop security systems for the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant.
Bob and Erika retired in 1994, moving to Blanco to be near their grandchildren, Justin, Travis, Victoria and Robert Jones, and fulfilling a lifelong dream to own a ranch. Totally missing the point of retirement, they worked hard to clear mesquite for pastures and plant a vineyard on their River Ridge Ranch east of Blanco. They also traveled throughout Texas, enjoying all the wonders of their new home.
Continuing his lifelong tradition of service, Bob was active with both the VFW and American Legion in Blanco, TX , even after a stroke in 2002. He and Erika supported the Blanco County Youth Livestock Show for many years and were Top Individual Buyers in 2004 and 2005.
Robert Eugene Fickle lived a good life and the ripples of his influence will continue to shape the future. We will miss you, Daddy, until we meet again in heaven.
