Obituary of Robert D. Fisher

none Robert D. Fisher Robert D. “Bob” Fisher went to be with our Lord November 30, 2005. Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Millie; their four children, Shelley (Dale) Warren, Terry (Lisa) Fisher, Lisa (Jeffery) O’rrell, and Kristi (Keith) Brown; and nine grandchildren. Bob’s parents, Arnold and Evelyn Fisher, and his brother Don preceded him in death. Born and raised in Spokane, Bob graduated from Rogers High School in 1951, where he first experienced politics serving as Student Body Vice-President. On Nov. 15, 1952, Bob and the love of his life, Mildred Marie Standal eloped to Coeur d’Alene, ID where they were married, much to the surprise of their parents! At the height of the Korean War, Bob received his draft notice. A member of the Naval Reserve, he requested active duty in the Navy and served two years as a cook on the USS Embattle minesweeper. Following service to his country, Bob attended Eastern Washington State College on the GI Bill while working full-time evenings driving a lift truck for Safeway Stores in the Spokane warehouse. He graduated in 1962 with a B.A. Ed, and later earned his M.A. Ed with principal credentials. Bob began his teaching career at Roosevelt Elementary School in Spokane where he taught fifth and sixth grades. During his fifth year of teaching he was elected president of the Spokane Education Association, his second venture into politics. That fall he was approached by the Washington Education Association and offered a position of governmental relations specialist in Seattle, then Olympia, with responsibilities for lobbying and political activities. Twenty-eight years later he retired as WEA’s Director of Governmental Relations and Chief Lobbyist. Bob was named lobbyist emeritus during his last year of lobbying by the Washington State Senate in Senate Resolution 1995-8659. Bob developed a lifetime of memories and rich friendships while lobbying for teachers and public education. In 1992 Bob was one of four lobbyists to address the House of Representatives meeting in a committee of the whole to discuss legislative ethics. Bob’s whole perspective on ethics in lobbying, as in life, was impacted when he received Jesus as his Savior and Lord in 1973 and was demonstrated by a life of concern for and service to others. Retirement years brought great joy to Bob as he and Millie traveled the US in their RV, purchased and sold antiques, and enjoyed more time with family. Bob’s life was characterized by integrity, generosity, humor, devotion to God and family, and an amazing love for his wife, Millie. His faith in God and trust in God’s plan for his life shaped his living and his dying. A celebration of Bob’s life will be held Friday, December 9, at l:00 p.m. at Church of Living Water, 18th and Chambers in Olympia. A private interment with full military honors will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery. Bob's greatest desire, beyond the welfare of his own family, was that through his living and dying people would know his God, and that Washington public school children would be well-educated and that those children with basic and urgent needs for clothing, shoes or school supplies would be helped. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation in Bob's name to the WEA Children's Fund. Please indicate your gift is in memory of Bob Fisher and mail to: WEA Children's Fund PO Box 9100 Federal Way, WA 98063