Robert Smith Winbigler

“Bob”

November 20, 1950 – December 5, 2025

Bob passed away peacefully on the morning of December 5, 2025, in Walnut Creek, California, at the age of 75 with his son Kurt by his side, listening to one of his favorite records, “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” by The Byrds. Born November 20, 1950, in Carthage, Illinois, to Robert Theodore Winbigler and Harriet Elizabeth (Smith) Winbigler, Bob grew up in multiple states, moving when his dad was transferred to a different cheese plant needing “Ted’s” expert managerial skills. LaGrange, Illinois was the last city he lived at home with family, graduating from Lyons Township High School, North campus in 1968. He explored attendance at several different colleges before settling in DeKalb, Illinois, attending Northern Illinois University (NIU), and graduated May 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences.

While attending classes, he worked at the Greyhound Bus Station in DeKalb where his boss, Jerry Fraser, also ran The Aquarius Cab Company. It was there he met the love of his life, Babs, a match made in Heaven. They married in Sycamore, Illinois, on June 7, 1975, at an outdoor ceremony in the city’s public park.

In 1977, they embarked on an eye-opening cross-country road trip on their most reliable means of transportation, a 1967 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra Glide motorcycle, to attend a Winbigler Family Reunion. The couple decided then to relocate to Sacramento, CA, at the end of 1978. Bob worked odd jobs before being hired at Cable Data, a paper billing company for the local cable company. They again relocated in 1983, this time to the Bay Area. Bob started work at Decker Electric Co. in San Francisco, CA, where he began his nearly 30-year career as a Project manager in electrical contracting. Proud residents of Walnut Creek, they found Orinda Community Church via Babs’ mom, Sylvia Carmichael, where Bob served on many committees, was Vice Moderator then Moderator, taught Sunday School, and sang in the Church Choir Bass section.

He was an enthusiastic fan of music all his life, from blues and jazz to classical - with a particular fondness for the compositions of Sir Edward Elgar. In addition to being a voracious reader and history buff, he had a lifelong love of Westerns, was an avid sportsman and was quite handy. He loved the open road and could often be found on the back of a motorcycle. For 20 or so odd years, he and lifelong friends, Rick and Jay, would ride their ‘Geezer Tour’ from Tombstone to Dunsmuir, up and down 395, and all through the desert and small towns in the fall each year. He will be remembered as an excellent storyteller, and always quick with a long joke.

He cherished the birth of his children, Kurt and Kate, and his marriage to Babs. He hoped to be remembered for being a good Sunday School teacher, being a good husband and father, trying to live the Golden Rule, and being a 'Stand-Up guy'.

His last few years were filled with operations, hospitalizations, limited mobility, and much pain. His family will forever be grateful for the excellent care he received in his last month from the staff at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek and Hospice of the East Bay in his final days.

Bob is survived by his wife, Mary Barbara ‘Babs’ (Carmichael) Winbigler; son Kurt Robert Winbigler; daughter Kathryn Grace Winbigler; sister Jan Elizabeth Winbigler; sister Alice Chapman (Winbigler) McGregor (Gary), nieces, a nephew, the best bunch of cousins, and by countless others who adopted Bob as their brother, friend, and mentor.

Rest in peace our beloved Bob and keep the Angel Choir laughing.

A memorial service will be held at The Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, Orinda, CA on Sunday, February 8, 2025, at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his name to Orinda Community Church in support of its Music Program or Common Hope (www.commonhope.org)

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