Robert L. Bloom's Obituary
Robert Leo "Rosey" Bloom
Robert Leo Bloom (Rosey), 10/30/1923 to 7/30/2011. Robert was the son of Harold and Olga (Larson) Bloom. Born and raised in the north end of Tacoma, he was nicknamed "Rosey" in his early teens because of his love of roses and his rosy red cheeks. He carried that name half way around the world and back. With the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy at the tender age of 18. After his recruit training, where he knew Henry Fonda, he was sent to Australia for extensive training in air rescue, low-altitude bombing, torpedo bombing, antisubmarine warfare, and night patrol. Training complete, he was shipped north to join Squadron 52, VPB 52 to employ his new talents along with his regular job of air gunner and bombardier. He met USMC Greg (Pappy) Boyington and his famous Black Sheep Squadron. VPB 52 was awarded The Presidential Unit Citation for their efforts. When the war ended, he was hired in at the Tacoma Smelter for temporary duty; he retired more than 36 years later, 36 years with no time off for injuries. When the Smelter shut down in 1985 he was hired by the Mexican firm to dismantle a part of Tacoma plant and ship it to Mexico and reassemble it. Mission accomplished and not ready to retire yet, his devoted wife and he decided to help the less fortunate by picking up pull-dated items from stores and distributing to the Salvation Army food bank, the Salvation Homeless Shelter, and Battered Women Shelter. With passing of his dearly beloved wife Donna, he decided to sit back and relax and wait till the time when he would be put to rest alongside of her forever. He leaves behind a son, Eric, Redwood City, CA, and two granddaughters, Nicole Johnson, San Diego CA and Tiffany Bloom, Redwood City, CA.
Arrangements by Mountain View Funeral Home.
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