Robert "Bob" Perea

April 11, 1935 — May 2, 2015

Robert "Bob" Perea, a 48-year resident of Sonora, passed away on May 2, 2015, at Avalon Care Center in Sonora. He was 80 years old.

He was born on April 11, 1935, in Van Nuys, California. Bob grew up in the San Fernando Valley and married his high school sweetheart, Junie, in 1954. He was a standout football player at Canoga Park High School (Crazy Legs Perea). He was MVP at Valley College in North Hollywood and later received a scholarship to Washington State College. He started working for PacBell in 1955, working through the ranks to become a managing engineer. He moved his family to Sonora in 1967. Finding a renewed passion for football, in the mid-1970s he was involved in helping start a youth football league in Tuolumne County. He loved coaching the young men in football and baseball.

Bob loved the outdoors, stream fishing, pack trips into the Emigrant Wilderness and water skiing with family. He also had a passion for woodworking, having made many family heirlooms. After his retirement, Bob and June took up the sport of golf and joined Mountain Springs Golf Club. He loved to attend Church of the 49ers and made many friends there. He loved spending time with his wife of 60 years, enjoying road trips and visiting all 50 states, with Alaska being one of his fondest memories. Family was the most important part of Bob's life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lupe and Leota Perea; and his siblings, Frank Perea, Ralph Perea, Lorena Perea Prichard and Earl Perea.

Bob is survived by his wife of 60 years, June Perea; his three children and their spouses, Peggie and Joey Pinocchio, Pam and Larry Carrillo and Randy and Teresa Perea; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Ricky and Krisi Pinocchio, Corinne and Ricky Ellingburg, Bobby and Leslie Carrillo, Ted Carrillo and Dana Fernandez, Dennis Carrillo and Jamie Gomez, Kenny and Stephanie Perea and Kayla Perea; and nine great-grandchildren, Jesse, Chloe and Caylee Ellingburg, Ayden, Connor and Lyla Carrillo, Carson Carrillo, Gwenneth and Roran Perea.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Terzich and Wilson Funeral Home. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 7, at the Columbia Presbyterian Church of the 49ers, with a reception following at Faith Hall.