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In memory of

Robert Merle Vinson

Long Beach, CA, USA

September 21, 1926 - March 16, 2018

Sep 21, 1926 - Mar 16, 2018

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Robert “Bob” Merle Vinson, Sr. of Long Beach, California, passed away on Friday, March 16, 2018, at the age of 91.

Bob was born September 21, 1926 in Huntington Park, CA, and was the second of two children. He grew up and lived most of his life in the Southern California area, which he always enjoyed for its warm weather, cool offshore breezes, and sunny skies.

Bob was very proud of his service in the United States Navy and spoke often about how important those experience were in shaping the man he became. After enlisting in the United States Navy at the age of 17, he served during World War II as an Electronics Technician on the submarine USS Blackfin SS-322 in the East China and Yellow Seas. He also served during the Korean War aboard the U.S. submarine USS Scabbardfish SS-397 and the USS Sea Fox SS-402 between 1952 and 1954. His boats were responsible for reconnaissance and special patrol operations off the coast of China and patrolling the northern Sea of Japan.

Following his discharge in April 1946, he attended Television Engineering School and was hired as an engineer in 1948 for NBC television network, where he worked for 38 years and 2 months. Working for NBC opened up opportunities to travel all over the United States and the world for events ranging from the sporting competitions to awards shows and presidential elections. After his retirement in 1987, he worked on NBC’s television engineering team at the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, and was awarded an Emmy for engineering in 1988.

Bob had a variety of pastimes that he enjoyed taking part in and led a very active lifestyle for most of his life. He was an avid tennis player and enjoyed swimming and going to the beach. A natural musician, he also played the trumpet and saxophone, and he even began learning to play the guitar in recent years. One of his favorite pastimes was listening to KJazz 88.1 out of Cal State Long Beach, and he would often hum and tap his hands and feet to his favorite tunes, even as he went to sleep each night.

Bob is survived by his sister, Virginia Cordell; five daughters, Ellen Holland, Karen Morgan, Leslie Vinson, Sabrina Gomez, and Rayven Vinson; two sons, Robert Vinson Jr. and Ryan Vinson; and two former-wives, Teresa Almada Vinson and Debbie Vinson.

He is predeceased by two sons, Steven Vinson and John Vinson, and his first wife, Shirley Vinson.

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