Robert ‘Bobby’ Walther

Belleflower, Cal. – Robert (Bobby) Stephen Walther, after a long illness, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, with his family at his side. He was 75 years old.
Bobby was born on October 9, 1943 in St. Martinville, La. He loved his ham radio set and in his junior year in high school attended Page school in Washington, D.C. The following year, he graduated from St. Martinville High School as its valedictorian. He graduated from USL (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1965 where he was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi national honor society and was awarded a national science grant to continue his studies at University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He received an advanced degree at UCLA and became a dedicated professor of Microbiology, first at Compton College, and then at Cerritos College (California) where he retired in 2014.
Bobby is survived by his wife, Kathy Hanson Walther; daughter, Shelly Marguerite Walther and husband Andrew Leising and their children Xander West and Soleil Skye; his daughter, Ann Elizabeth Walther and partner Ed Bondurant; his son, Bradley Michael Walther and wife Genevieve Bergdorf Walther, and their son Hunter Lumiere; all of whom are in southern California.
He is also survived by his brother, Richard (Dickie) Pool Walther and wife Mary Ann of San Diego, Cal.; and nieces and nephews, Janine Louise Williams (Ken), David Matthew Walther (Paige) and Richard Pool Walther II (Kendy); his ex-wife Sheryal Bushnell Walther of Long Beach, Cal., who is the mother of his children; his step-brother, Alvin Cormier and wife Gerry of St. Martinville and their sons, Clint, Guy and Brady.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Edward and Louise Marguerite Richard Walther; and brother, Charles Edward Walther Jr.
Bobby and Kathy enjoyed camping many of the beaches along the beautiful California coast as well as the peaceful deserts. They spent their summers at their camp in Minnesota where they enjoyed boating, fishing, wildlife, relaxing with a good book or music and entertaining. They loved to travel and made several trips to Europe, the most memorable was two weeks in Paris shared with brother, Dick and wife Mary Ann. He made the effort to attend as many reunions he could with his high school and page school in Washington, D.C.
He and Kathy were avid fans of the LA Dodgers baseball team and the UCLA Bruins football and basketball teams. He loved to cook, especially when he had an envie for Cajun dishes, which he made for his friends, coworkers and family. Since his family were all close by, he took great pleasure being with his kids and grandkids and their activities.
Bob will be missed by many, particularly because of his courage and optimistic and positive outlook on life. He was anointed by an Episcopal priest and per his wishes his ashes will be spread at sea.
A celebration of Bobby’s life will be held Saturday, June 1, 2019, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Long Beach, with The Reverend Sharon Sheffield officiating.
Please see The Bucket List Project Foundation, www.thebucketlistproject.com for memorial donations and a video featuring Bobby’s story.