Robert Lee (Bob) Mince was born on Aug. 7, 1932 in Fort Smith, Ark. and passed away from this earth on Jan. 19, 2012 in Bakersfield, Calif. He was 79. Bob was preceded in death by his father Oshal, his mother Wanda, and his bride of 49 years, Patricia. He is survived by his three loving children and their spouses, son Mike Mince and his wife Kathy, daughter, Lourie Kraft and her husband Jerry, and daughter Kellie Haskill and her husband Jim, seven grandsons, four granddaughters, four great-granddaughters and two great-grandsons. He leaves four brothers, Bill, Harold, Walt and Jerry, and seven nephews and two nieces and numerous great nephews and nieces.

Bob’s family moved from Fort Smith, Ark. in 1940 and settled in the farming community of Arvin, California. He attended Bakersfield High School where he played football and set a state record in track. After high school he attended Bakersfield College until joining the army. Army life met with Bob’s liking as he excelled in marksmanship, boxing for his divisions boxing team and was selected to an elite Special Forces unit where he later became an instructor.

After his army stint, Bob returned to Bakersfield to work in the oil fields and as the athletic trainer for Bakersfield High School. Bob married Patricia on Aug. 11, 1955 and started his family and career with the Kern County Probation Department. Bob moved his family to Greenhorn Mountain out of Wofford Heights, Calif. and worked for 30 years at the Camp Erwin Owen facility in Kernville. He retired from Camp Owen in 1992. Bob moved his talents to Kern Valley High School and served as an Intervention Specialist. He also worked with the Special Education Department and in campus security. One could always find him in the spring coaching baseball or softball on the Kern Valley campus. Bob had a remarkable knowledge of many things particularly history and especially of the Native American tribes of North America and of the Mountain Men. His love of the outdoors no doubt sparked this interest.

Bob impacted all those who knew him and positively influenced the lives of many young men at Camp Owen. He will always be missed and fondly remembered.