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Brewster Jr., Bob
Bob Brewster Jr. 91, a resident of Living Center East, died there Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. Per Bob's request there will be no service or visitation. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bob was born Dec. 25, 1920, in Shawnee, Okla., and grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas. He attended city schools and graduated from Wichita Falls High School. He received a B.A. degree from Midwestern College in Wichita Falls. During high school he started playing violin for the Wichita Falls Symphony.
Bob joined the U.S. Coast Guard because he was too young for the Navy and then served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He re-enlisted in the Navy to serve in the Korean War. He was a Lieutenant JG.
He met Sallie Frederick after the war and was married on March 12, 1947. Their only child, Gretchen Brewster, was born in 1949.
He held various jobs in his early years: an accountant for Price-Waterhouse in Houston and Hughes Aircraft in California. They moved to New York City, where Bob worked for an investment firm for many years.
He loved the city and took advantage of the symphonies, opera and night club jazz. Bob loved the many libraries of the city and read widely. He was a lover of music, books and big cities.
He visited London, Paris, Zurich and other cities in China and Russia during his many years of exploring the world. In the late 1970s, American General moved to Houston, Texas, where he lived until retirement in 1986.
After moving to Omaha, Neb., and then to Cedar Rapids, he lived a quiet life.
He is survived by his wife, Sallie; daughter, Gretchen Mellberg (Fritz) of Cedar Rapids; two granddaughters, Emily Lavender (Jamie) of Alameda, Calif., and Elizabeth Finch (Krys); and three great-grandsons, Simon Lavender, Ronen Lavender and Dylan Finch.
The family gives a huge thank you to St. Luke's Hospice, especially Erin, Donna, Pam and Karla. A warm thank you also to the staff at Living Center East for their excellent care in Bob's last days.
Please leave a message or tribute to the Brewster family on the Web page, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
Published Nov. 4, 2012 in The Gazette
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