Robert Bruce Pulfer

Robert Bruce “Bob”
Pulfer passed away on
Oct. 1, 2016, at Washington
Odd Fellows Home, mere hours after the passing
of his wife Phyllis, ever the caring and devoted husband.
He was born on Dec. 24, 1922, to Hugh Bugbee
and Mary Annette Maffett Bugbee in Portland. His
mother remarried when he was young and Bob was
adopted by the only father he ever knew, Cecil James
Pulfer. He lived his early years in Portland and later,
through the depression years, he lived at Latourell
Falls in Oregon. His grandparents had a restaurant
at the falls and he loved his years there. In his teens,
his father took a job working on the Panama Canal
and Bob attended school there through high school
and Junior college. There he made friends from all
over the world and traveled to many Latin American
countries. This would help to shape his later views
on the world and the political ideals that he held. Bob
joined the military in WWII, not an easy feat for a
flat footed man with color blindness. He served in the
Seabees and in the Pacific Theatre, stationed in the
Philippines. It was during this time that he became
quite ill with Malaria and had surgery to remove part
of a lung. He returned to the States following his honorable
discharge near the end of the war and attended
the University of Oregon, majoring in Engineering.
It was there that he met and married his “bride” of 68
years, Phyllis Jane Feiring on June 17, 1948.
Bob went to work for the Corps of Engineers and
worked at several of the dam projects along the Columbia
and Snake Rivers. These were also some of
the same sites where his father had worked. He and
Phyllis made many lifelong friends with his co-workers.
They had 6 children over the next 8 years and
eventually settled in Walla Walla. Bob taught Math
and History for a time at Walla Walla High School
and then returned to working for the Corps in the
contract division. He was one of the first Corps Officers
to assist the implementation of the Equal Opportunity
guidelines newly mandated for the Corps.
Bob took an early retirement and returned to school
in his 5th decade attending the nursing curriculum
at WWCC. He had wanted to become a doctor, years
earlier, however, he was not deemed fit enough due to
the Malaria. After graduation, he worked as a Registered
Nurse for many years at St Mary’s, a job that
he loved dearly. During the 1970-80’s he and Phyllis
also owned The Left Bank Restaurant in downtown
Walla Walla. They loved good food and wanted to
share this passion with the community. He enjoyed
the people he worked with and is remembered fondly
by co-workers, former students, hospital personnel
and restaurant staff. He retired from nursing only after
ill health forced him to do so. Bob was a man that
liked to keep busy and in his retirement years he volunteered
to work in any kitchen that would have him,
including his Church and the Christian Aid Center.
Bob and Phyllis donated generously to many causes,
particularly to the Shriners Hospital, to whom they
were quite grateful for the care they had provided to
their daughter Janet.
Bob loved being a father and his 6 children were
his “tribe”. He was cheerful in his demeanor and his
home was filled with laughter and joy. He is remembered
as a man with a keen wit and a ready smile. He
was a very loving husband and shared generously of
his time and energy with his entire family. His support
of Phyllis made her many accomplishments possible.
He also loved and was generous with his large
expanding family. His 10 grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren
all loved Bob dearly. He will be greatly
missed by all his family and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his wife
of 68 years, Phyllis F. Pulfer and a son, Bruce James
Pulfer. He is survived by a son, Ross Pulfer (Merrilynn
Leslie), and daughters Jan (Ray) Velez, Marianne
Pulfer (Richard Thurston), Kathleen Burgess
(Aaron), and Nadean Pulfer (Irving Rosenberg), and
grandchildren John and Jesse Burgess, Camille Hallowell,
Madeline and Elliot Brown, Lindsey Velez,
Vanessa Rinear, Lucy and Caleb Pulfer, and Sam Lokeni.
There will be a celebration of Bob and Phyllis’ lives
on October 22, 2016, at 11 a.m., at the First Congregational
Church, food, and refreshments to follow
services in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to the Teen Center/Blue Mountain
Action Council (homeless shelter for teens) or
organization of your choice, through Herring Groseclose
Funeral Home.