Windibank, Robert's Obituary
Robert George Windibank
Was born October 17th, 1956 in Penola, South Australia, Australia, and passed peacefully at home in Spanaway Washington, on August 17th, 2025.
Robert Wayne Ettridge, was born to Harry Nethercott and Margaret Ettridge.
Bob went to live with Raymond E. Windibank and Lorna Windibank nee Gehan August 13, 1958, who then adopted him March 25, 1959 and changed his name to Robert George Windibank. They had a biological son Gary.
Bob talked about his life growing up, fishing, hunting, and especially playing sports. Bob loved playing cricket and football (Australian Rules). Bob also raised show birds, and racing pigeons which carried into his adulthood.
Bob adopted a daughter, Melissa Kate Windibank, who was born October 1991, with his then wife Lynette.
Bob worked on a farm in South Australia, locks in the Riverland, eventually working for SASI as a Groundskeeper.
Bob married Marsha Jane Dodge, March 24, 2007 in Adelaide. They had met on a penpal site in 2003, with Marsha moving to Australia in 2005. Both liked to travel, have yearly Halloween parties, hangout with friends, and night swimming in their pool watching satellites!
Bob immigrated to the US in October 2012, following Marsha. He liked to build things, including a pool enclosure, and the chicken coop with the kids, hang out with family and friends, have parties, and travel. Bob worked at Home Depot until 2021, when he became ill.
Bob was preceded in death by his Mum Lorna, father Ray, biological father Harry, his Uncle Ian Windibank, and cousin Joanne Melbourne nee Windibank.
Bob is survived by his wife Marsha Jane Windibank, stepdaughter Rachael Bobenhouse and son-in-law Jason Bobenhouse, Grandson Chance Bobenhouse, Melissa Brunato (Windibank) daughter, Aunt Carmel Windibank, cousin Christine Brock nee Windibank and family, Joanne Melbourne nee Windibank’s family, brother Gary and wife Judy Windibank, and nephew Matthew and niece Kelly Windibank, their children Blake, Emily, and Alex, nephew Michael Windibank, known biological siblings TerriAnne Jackson, Brian Nethercott and wife Lyne, and Kate Anderson.
Bob is also survived by in-laws Betty and Ron Dodge, brother-in-law Ron Dodge Jr, nieces Emily, Ruthie, and nephew Joell, and stepson Bryce Stewart and his family.
Services will be held at Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Tacoma, WA 98499. Viewing is Thursday, August 28, 2025 12-4pm at Mountain View Funeral Home. Celebration of Bob’s Life is Friday, August 29, 2025 at the Celebration of Life Center (Aspen Chapel). Service starts at 10am, graveside at 11:30, then return to Aspen Chapel (Oak room) for nibbles and socializing. Bob was a wonderful human being, will be greatly missed, and loved forever by Marsha.
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