Passed Away On: 07/26/2019
Robert “Bob” Dickens, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, businessman, Eagle Scout, and pilot, slipped the surly bonds of earth for the last time on July 26th, 2019, and now flies above us all looking back on a life of love, success, and adventure.
Born in Watsonville in 1936 and graduating from Watsonville High School in 1954, Bob, along with his brother Norman, built the family business, Associated Chemicals, into a successful agricultural business in the Salinas Valley. In the 80’s and 90’s he could be found providing his leadership skills to various agricultural organizations in California. Bob, an extraordinary people person, contributed his time and his airplane to The Flying Doctors many times in the 80’s, flying into rural areas of Mexico to help provide much needed medical attention to the people there. Never satisfied with what he had already done and accomplished, he was always eager to try something new, like skydiving and scuba diving.
Looking down from above, Bob now sees his wife of 60 years Virginia; his daughter Chris Ferdinand (Roger), of Seattle, son Robert Dickens Jr., of Watsonville; his grandsons, Jason Ferdinand (Emily), of London, England, Joshua Blanton (Candace), of Miami, Florida, and Bradley Dickens, of Watsonville; and great-grandchildren, Finnley and Adelynd Blanton, of Miami, Florida.
So, if you happen to hear a small plane and look up into a beautiful blue sky and see nothing, smile and give a big wave anyhow; that was probably Bob.
A memorial in honor of this wonderful man will be held in the near future.