Robert "Bob" G. Wrenn

Robert "Bob" G. Wrenn

March 1, 1926 - January 2, 2024

Robert “Bob” Wrenn passed away peacefully on January 2, 2024, two months shy of his 98th birthday. He was born on March 1, 1926 to John and Rosalee (Hanley)  Wrenn in Charleston, Illinois, just prior to the Great Depression. As a child, Bob had many adventures with his cousins, Jack and Kenny, and dogs, including his favorite, Butch, who followed him everywhere and loved to chase squirrels. He played baseball, football, and basketball, went fishing, collected stamps and coins, and enjoyed the horse races. During prohibition, he inadvertently assisted bootleggers by transporting moonshine through the neighborhood in his little red wagon.

Bob proudly served his country in World War II as a Radioman in the Navy, where one of his duties was patrolling the California Coast for enemy submarines. After the war, he returned to Charleston and attended Eastern Illinois University, majoring in Business Education and later receiving his Masters in Education. He held an interesting array of summer jobs, including lifeguard, harness racing stable hand, wallpaper factory worker, and Pinkerton Guard. Before heading back to California where he preferred the warm weather, he spent a few years teaching high school in the midwest. Shortly after arriving in California in 1956, he landed a job at Los Angeles Harbor College and served there for 48 years, teaching accounting, typing, shorthand, and office machines. For many years he was the Business Department Chair and he received several distinguished teaching awards during his tenure.

Bob met Patricia,the love of his life, at the Long Beach Catholic Alumni Club. They married in December, 1962, and welcomed three daughters, Rosemary, Michelle, and Elaine. He was a loving, caring, and supportive dad who instilled in his girls the importance of integrity, education, and financial responsibility as well as his love for and knowledge of sports.

Bob loved babies, who sensed his calm nature and melted in his arms. His grandchildren, Kaytee, Bob, Becca, and Brenna loved “Papa Bob” and brought him hours of joy and laughs as he played with them and took sincere interest in what was important to them. When his granddogs, Riley, Jack, Penny, Bruin, Reed, and Levi visited, he loved to pet them and spoil them with treats.

Bob was an intelligent, loving, and creative man who will be missed by all who knew him. He is survived by Pat Wrenn, his wife of 61 years, his daughters Rosemary Wrenn, Michelle Benham (Brian), and Elaine Wrenn, and his four grandchildren.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to two organizations that were important to Bob:

Los Angeles Harbor College Scholarship Fund

Bob taught accounting, typing, shorthand, and office machines at Harbor College for 48 years.

Use this unique link to contribute to the Harbor College Scholarship Fund in memory of Robert Wrenn:  http://tinyurl.com/RobertWrenn

Honor Flight

Bob proudly served his country during World War II as a Radioman in the US Navy.

Honor Flight is a program that celebrates veterans for their service, sacrifice, and selflessness with a journey to Washington DC for a day of honor at our nation’s memorials.

Use this link to donate to Honor Flight Southland: https://www.honorflightsouthland.org/, the chapter that sponsored this meaningful experience for Bob.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401