On February 6, 2019 California native Robert E. Lyons died days after his 101st birthday at his home in Watsonville, California.
Born January 27, 1918 in Cambria, California, Robert was the youngest child of Cambria pioneers William Lyons and Anna Marquart Lyons. Robert and his three older siblings, Elizabeth, Wilfred and Nicholas, grew up in Cambria, where his parents ran a general store. After graduating from Coast Union HS (1936 athlete of the year), Robert moved to Hollister, where he attained his AA from Gavilan College and took a job with Pacific Bell. During World War II Robert served in France and Germany (3rd Army), participating in the Battle of the Bulge and other actions, and was awarded the Bronze Star.
After the war, Robert married Burnis Hunter of Berkeley, California and started a family, which grew to include three sons, Robert, Nicholas and William. Robert resumed his job with Pac Bell, eventually becoming a construction supervisor based in Watsonville. An avid outdoorsman, Robert enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. The family spent summer vacations in the Sierras, including pack trips high into the backcountry. Later, Robert enjoyed fishing on Monterey Bay with his son Bill. Robert and Burnis were avid gardeners who filled the backyard with flowers, fruit trees and seasonal vegetables.
Robert was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years Burnis H. Lyons (1919-2011) as well as his older siblings, and is survived by: his sons, Robert W. Lyons (Christine Johnson-Lyons) and William H. Lyons (Barbara Lyons) of Watsonville, and Nicholas C. Lyons (Kathy Yurman) of Cambria; and by four grandchildren (Samuel Lyons, Julia Neuman, Max Lyons, Toby Lyons) and one great grandchild (Lincoln Neuman).
