Robert (Bob) Chess passed away peacefully on October 5 at his residence in Gresham. He was born in Yakima, WA on August 23, 1935 to Alpha N. Chess, and graduated from Greenleaf Friends Academy (ID) in 1953. He attended George Fox College, where he met Verdella Ann Greene. They married in 1958 at the Gresham Church of the Nazarene and settled in the Damascus area, moving
to Sandy in 2001. He relocated to Gresham after Verdella's passing in 2011.
Bob enjoyed sports throughout his life, emerging
as a three-sport star at Greenleaf Friends Academy.
He shared this passion with his family, with a big
highlight being in attendance at the 1977 NBA
Finals Game 6 when the Portland TrailBlazers won
their only championship! He worked at Boeing
(Seattle) and Crown Zellerbach (Oregon City) before
learning the refrigeration trade, retiring in
1991 as chief engineer at Northwestern Ice & Cold
Storage.
He showed extreme courage in battling health
issues for many years, without losing his faith or
great sense of humor - providing a "Hall of Fame"
example on how to live life. Survivors include
his son, Jon Chess of Gresham; daughter, Janelle
Chess of Rockaway Beach; two grandchildren; and
four great-grandchildren.
He was interred October 20 at Forest Lawn
Cemetery with a private burial service. A virtual
memorial service will be held at a later date, and
contributions can be made to Bristol Hospice in
Clackamas.