Former resident Robert George Stokes dies at 89

The family held a service for former Wrangell resident Robert "Bobby" George Stokes at the Harbor Light Church on Aug. 25. Burial followed at Sunset Gardens. Bobby passed away on July 23, 2020, at age 89, in Everett, Washington, due to natural causes.

He was born at the Wrangell Bishop Rowe Hospital to Jack and Lillian Stokes on July 31, 1930. Jack was an Irishman from Revelstoke, British Columbia. Lillian was born in Douglas, across the channel from Juneau, and was a Tlingit of the Luknax.adi. clan. Together they had six children; Bobby was the second youngest.

His school years were spent mostly in Wrangell, except for a few years at the St. Pius X Catholic mission boarding school in Skagway. He grew up as a Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Sea Scout. He was a basketball star in high school as a forward; the team won the territorial championship during one of his years.

Bobby filled many roles throughout life, including service in the National Guard. He was a fisherman aboard the Tiny Boy and Tiny Boy II with the Ottesen crew. "While it was a short-lived experience, he continued to reminisce about his fishing days for the rest of his life," his family wrote.

He went on to run a Wrangell taxi service with Charles "Perky" Berg before picking up a job in the grocery business with Benjamin's and City Market. He continued in the business after moving to Washington state.

He settled in Edmonds, Washington, where he married Judy Attebury. They had four boys together. The couple eventually separated and Bobby went on to spend the rest of his life with Paula Hart. They resided in Evertt, Washington. Through all of his endeavors, he never gave up singing. "His noteworthy golden voice was matchless," his family wrote.

"The family would like to express thanks to Mercedes Angerman for her long employment (34 years) helping veterans and leading officials to grant honorable discharges from the National Guard for young Wrangell soldiers and standing guard members from World War II." Many of those who benefitted were from Wrangell, "such as Bobby, Harvey, Cappy and Felix," the family wrote.

Bobby is survived by his sons Robert "Bobbie" Jr., Bart, Michael and Mark Stokes.