Robert G. Allison
April 8, 1934 – April 14, 2017

Robert G. (Bob) Allison, devoted family man, journeyed into eternal life on Good Friday, April 14, 2017. Bob was born April 8, 1934 in Compton, California, to Boneta Merklin Allison and William Frank Allison, both native Oklahomans. During his school years, Bob traveled frequently to the family farm in Mutual, Oklahoma, where he spent summers with his extended family, including his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. When he was 17, Bob met the love of his life, Marie Mae LaMark. Their first date was the Junior/Senior prom, and from that time forward, Bob and Marie were inseparable. They married as soon as Marie graduated from high school, and soon thereafter the young couple began their family, adding four daughters over six years. Bob worked as a mailman and night watchman while attending UCLA, from which he graduated with a business degree in 1957. Upon graduation, Bob flew cross-country to interview for a marketing position with Proctor & Gamble, after telling P&G that if they filled the position before he interviewed for it, they would be making a mistake. Apparently, the powers that be at P&G believed Bob, because upon meeting him, they hired him on the spot. Bob, Marie, and his daughters moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in February 1958, whereupon Bob embarked on a successful career as a leader in P&G’s marketing and quality departments. After 37 years leading multiple successful marketing campaigns for the product lines Bounty and Charmin (including the Mr. Whipple “Please Don’t Squeeze the Charmin” campaign), and working as a charter member of the team responsible for developing P&G’s Total Quality program, Bob retired. Retirement brought new opportunities for Bob and Marie, who, after years of living part-time on Lake Chautauqua in Western New York, moved full-time to Bemus Point on “the Lake,” where he was well-known and loved by all. Between frequent travels overseas, Bob worked as a member of the Board of Directors of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy. His work to preserve diminishing natural lakeshore (including protecting the 34-acre historic Cheney Farm and the Loomis Goose Creek wetland preserve) were among his proudest accomplishments. Bob was an expert fisherman, a natural raconteur, a self-taught landscaper, an optimist, idea-man, and life-long risk-taker. He loved a good party, the quiet beauty of the Lake at sunset, and trading stories with the gang at the VFW. He celebrated the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, and suffered their setbacks with them. Ever the master of the grand gesture, Bob loved surprising his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with thoughtful gifts, unexpected visits, and wonderful vacations. He will be loved and missed always by cherished family and friends near and far. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and grandson Patrick Robert Vogt. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marie, his daughters and sons-in-law Cynthia (husband Lawrence Striley), Cheryl (husband Jerry Vogt), Cathy (former husband Joe DiTommasso Jr), and Christy (husband Sonny Salinas); his grandchildren Jesse Luken, Alea Luken, Joe DiTommasso III, Corey DiTommasso, Philip DiTommasso, Charlie Vogt, and Kelly Vogt; and his great-grandchildren Lucienne Campbell and Henry Vogt.
Memorial Service will be at 2:00PM, Sunday, April 23, 2017 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 5555 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94517.
Condolences may be made at www.ouimetbrothers.com.

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