Friday, July 6, 2007

The Hardest Post

This morning at 9am, Dad's breathing slowed, and finally stopped. It was very peaceful and he didn't suffer. We wish there was a way to tell all of you in person, to thank you for your support, so you don't have to read this news on a cold computer screen. Your support and love and prayers have helped us through since the news in January, and we know you will continue to keep Dad in your hearts so that he will live on forever.



I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"


"Gone where?"


Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.


Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"


And that is dying.

                                     Henry van Dyke



Rest in Peace, Robert Harold Densmore. 3/22/43 - 7/6/07

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

To Verva, Katy, Sarah, Scott, and Peter, and all the Densmore clan,

You have our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies, our thanks for welcoming us into the fold electronically these last few months with us whether with good news or with bad, and our eternal gratitude for allowing us to be a part, however small, of Bob's wonderful life.

With love,
Tex & Marty

Anonymous said...

To Verva and all the Densmore family,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Thank you so very much for sharing all the news. You are in my prayers.
Love,
Renee

Anonymous said...

My heartfelt condolences to Bob's family, I would like offer my prayers for you all during this very stressful time.

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Be worried for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

"Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love."

Bob, I'll see you in Heaven buddy!

Anonymous said...

Sarah and family, I am so sorry to hear of your fathers passing. After my Dad's passing I was so hoping you would have a happier outcome. Your faith and those who love and care for you will help you greatly through this. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cindy Crow

Anonymous said...

Bob interviewed and hired me for the Benicia Refinery. He was a very caring gentleman who assisted/supported me in the early years of my Exxon career. I will never forget him. My deepest sympathies for your loss. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time.

Colleen Kraus

Anonymous said...

Verva, Katy and Scott, Sarah and Peter - Kathy and I send you our deepest sympathies.

As neighbors for 6 years, our friendship grew surpassing the miles between Texas and Illinois when we moved in 2000. We share wonderful memories of times spent with all of you. Kathy and I will never forget Bob, nor the way he touched our lives.

Our thoughts and prayers all with you all at this especially difficult time.

Charla Malek said...

Sarah, Peter & Family,
We mourn the loss of your Dad and send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers. I look forward to meeting Bob when I get to heaven.
'May the God of Hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him' Romans 15:13
Charla Malek & Your ExxonMobil Family

Charla Malek said...

Sarah, Peter & Family,
We mourn the loss of your Dad and send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers. I look forward to meeting Bob when I get to heaven.
'May the God of Hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him' Romans 15:13
Charla Malek &
Your ExxonMobil Family

Anonymous said...

To all of the Densmore family,

Nancy and I wish to express our deepest sympathy on the passing of Bob. He was very fine man and will be missed by all who knew him. I will always remeber his mantra when things get tough, "one day at a time, piece of cake".

Ken and Nancy Garrison

Anonymous said...

To Verva and the Densmore Family,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss....Bob was such a special person, I wany you to know he blessed mine and everyones life he touched. We know your faith, familiy and friends will get you though this difficult time. Barbara and I will keep each of you close in our thoughts and prayers.

Ken and Barbara Hancock

Anonymous said...

As sad as the news was of Bob's passing, I found comfort in your posting of the quote from Henry Van Dyke and do believe his ship has finally arrived in heaven. Thankyou for sharing these past several months with us through your blog; Bob was an inspiration to many of us. You are in my prayers.

Mark Sechler

rindy said...

just as it was hard to put into words the difference bob made in the lives of so many he knew and would never know; there are no words to convey the ripple of loss that will be felt by bob's passing.

there are thousands who were given hope by bob's encouragement and support professionally and personally. when bob saw someone, he never saw color, contractor, exxxonmobil, religion, rich, poor, supervisor, field or age...he say people and had a gift of seeing what it took to reach them and guide and help them.

through his own whole blood and platelet donations and the encouragement he gave others to donate, he gave hope to others; all sick; all in need; and needing what he could give.

i will miss him and will continue to try and work on my lack of chopsticks skill so when we meet again, he won't have to have a fork for me.....

my love and blessings on all of you for the precious gift of family and loving bob that you all shared with us.

with love always, rindy

Anonymous said...

Dear Densmore Family,

My heartfelt sympathy and prayers are with you today. All who knew Bob loved his smile and his genuinely good heart. He was definitely a people person. And we, the people, will definitely miss him. Know that you are in our prayers.

Anonymous said...

Verva & family,
Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. Bob will be missed by so many people outside your family and with that knowledge you know he was loved by many of us.
Love,
Lynn

gaye said...

For this is Wisdom; to love, to live
To take what fate, or the Gods may give.
To ask no question, to make no prayer,
To kiss the lips and caress the hair,
Speed passion's ebb as you greet its flow
To have, - to hold -
and - in time,
- let go.
Laurence Hope

My heart & love is wwith you Verva & your family.
Love, gaye

Barbara said...

Dear Verva and Family,

Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss. It's hard to believe that someone as vital and alive as Bob has gone. However, his memory and spirit live in all those who know and love him. Life really does turn on a dime.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Barbara and James Murray

Anonymous said...

Aunt Verva, Sarah, & Katy - My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. I will miss Uncle Bob very much...especially his heart shaped chocolate chip pancakes he would make us when we were kids. He was such an amazing man and I feel so grateful I was able to know him. I love you.
Megan

Steve said...

Verva, Katy, Sarah and the rest of the Densmore clan,

I can't tell you how sad we are to hear of Bob's passing. He was definitely "one of the good guys" and we will miss him desperately. I feel privileged just to have known him.

Our love,

Steve

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great picture of Bob. We will always remember him just like that.
We are so grateful that we were able to get together in Bodega Bay. At the time, we hoped that wouldn't be goodbye. But, if we had to choose a setting for goodbyes, that had to be perfect. It's as if God told the coastal waters and sky to behave, and gave us the perfect opportunity to enjoy our time with him for the last time. Seeing Bob and Verva walking up from the beach, hand in hand, just glowing with love, made our hearts skip a beat.

One of us knew Bob, like forever, and one of us, knew him for a short time. We both cherish the time we spent together.

Love, to all
Pete and
Gloria

Anonymous said...

Verva,

Bob existed in the universe before.
He existed with you, with us, for a time.
Now he still exists, in an different way.

The loss is real, and he will be missed. I will miss him, miss knowing he is here for you, for us, for himself. But I will always know he is still here with us. I hope you will continue to feel his presence, even as you live with the sorrow of his passing from our midst.

Chants will continue for him, you, and your family.

Steve Baier

Anonymous said...

Our deepest sympathies and condolences go Verva and all of Bob's family. I'm grateful Bob created this blog to openly share his final chapter with us,

Best wishes.

Scott and Mary Stygar.

Anonymous said...

Verva and Family....I feel so blessed to have seen Bob on July 4th and even more blessed with his reaction when he realized he had company. I can't wait to see him in heaven and joke like we always did. He IS such a special person and his spirit will live on in many of us. You have a huge community of friends to aid you in any way necessary and we will be there for you.

While grieving will occur, we will try to smile and be joyful, for Bob is with the angels now. He would not have wanted us to mourn him but to embrace life every day as he did. It is a lesson we can all remember on Bob's behalf.

You have our love and sympathy,
Bruce and Deb

Anonymous said...

You will be missed dearly, Uncle Bob. I will never forget the letter shaped, chocolate chip pancakes.

Chris said...

To Verva and the family,
Bob has always lived and continues to live an amazing life in the memories and thoughts of rhis friends and cowrokers. My thoughts are with you in this difficult time - just remember so is Bob!
Chris Erickson

Dan Stangel said...

I am so happy that Bob was a part of my life, from probably the day I entered this world, through childhood and many, many picnics, camping trips, and outings, and then more recently as a very dear friend. Bob was, along with Sam, another Dad in my life growing up.

I will cherish and hold dear all of my memories of Bob over the years. I think I loved best his deep, warm greetings, always with an enormous grin and some kind words.

I will miss him immensely.
Love,
Dan

Anonymous said...

Sad. I feel like I've lost a good friend today. Please accept my deepest sympathies.


Sparkles

Anonymous said...

Katy and Scott and families, I'm so sorry to hear of this. That quote from this last post is really beautiful. Your friends will be thinking of you. It's sweet to see how much you loved your dad. Take care.

--Kristin (Field)

Anonymous said...

Verva, Katy, Sarah, and the family,

Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss. As we were neighbours on Lofty Mountain, Bob was a great inspiration to our family and we shall never forget.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.

Mike and Van

Anonymous said...

To Verva, Katy and Sarah,

Deepest and heart-felt sympathies are sent to you and yours. Bob certainly was a special man to all who came to know him over the years, this goes without saying. Some 27 years ago my life was lucky enough to cross paths with Bob's in Benicia at Exxon. Bob shall live on in our lives forever through those many wonderful memories of his wit, humor, laugh, and greater & uniquely Bob Densmore persona!!!

Bob Densmore you are always a true champion! Thank you for giving this guy a "re-start in '88"....

Back in 1981 Bob told of us Katy's 5 year old definition of a Refinery Turnaround.... "I know Dad its because you turnaround and go back to work when you get home!" Bob thanks for sharing that in your deep voice and gregarious manner, your laugh resounds! And Bob, you shall always turnaround our lives....now and forever! We shall remember you for that and much more throughout our days.

Cheers Bob from New Zealand, I happened upon your Blogspot for the first time today. Sadly we must say good-bye but knowing another day our lives shall cross again! God bless and good bye Boss!

To the Densmore family, condolences and thoughts are respectfully sent & extended to you all....

Richard Cotter & family

Anonymous said...

Verva, Sarah, and Katy,

Heartfelt sympathies to all of you on your loss. You are all in our
thoughts.

Paula and Michael

Anonymous said...

Our deepest sympathies to the whole family. We will be thinking of you.
Love,
Teri Esparza Dobbins & family

Mike Nepi said...

To the Densmore families,

May God bless and hold close Bob Densmore.

It was a distict honor to have known Bob professionally as an engineer in the petrochem industy, and on a person level as a warm, caring, and genuinely sincere gentleman who was the personification of family values.

With warm wishes of fond memories,

Mike & Dale Nepi
Lorton, Virginia

Steve and Mimi said...

Dear Verva and the Densmore family,

We are so very sorry for your loss. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Steve & Mimi

Anonymous said...

Dear Verva, Katy, Sarah and family,
You have our deepest sympathy as you adjust to life without Bob in your presence. I know he is with you, just in a new dimension.

We are from Bob's distant past, high school years. Even as a teenager he exhibited all the traits I see described by others - caring, interested in others, fun-loving, and humorous, and so much more.

It has been uplifting to read the words of Bob's friends and have a picture of his and your life over the years. It was courageous of Bob to start this blog site, but then, that was another manifestation of how he cared for others. What a special human being he was. It was a privilege to have known him.

May you take comfort in knowing how special he was to so many.

Sharon and Clyde Laird
California

Anonymous said...

Dear Verva, Katy, Sara & Densmore Family,
My sincere sympathy for your loss, our loss. I believe Sara's quote says it all about Bob's own attitude and perspective. I know no one with a more positive attitude about life, family and all the important things in life.
Gene

Anonymous said...

Dear Verva, Katy, Sarah, Scott and Peter,

Debbie and I are so sorry to hear of Bob's passing. Bob was a wonderful person who had a strong, positive impact on our lives. We will be forever grateful for the way you and he welcomed us into your family. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Love,

John and Debbie

Anonymous said...

Bob was loved and respected by many. He will be missed.

James Pontiff

Anonymous said...

Thank God for you Bob Densmore

You truly lead by example and it was a pleasure to work with you and for you. I have rarely known someone who could inspire others to do their best the way you could. You made the Benicia Refinery a more successful and better place to work, and we have been forever grateful.

Thank you Verva, Katy and Sarah for sharing him with us.

Reg

Anonymous said...

Dear Verva,

What a gift Bob's life has been to us. We will miss him dearly and cherish the lifetime of memories we have shared together.

Love,
Sam and Maryo