Robert Vernon Dobson

Feb 16, 1928 -

Feb 26, 2021

Longtime Alaska resident Robert Vernon Dobson, 93, passed away on Feb. 26, 2021, at his apartment in the Chugiak-Eagle River Senior Center.

Bob was born in Osborn, Mo., and lived there until 1935, when his family moved to Northern Minnesota to farm. He attended Marcell School and Deer River High School. He joined the Navy in 1946, and served on the USS Astoria. In 1949, he made his first trip to Alaska to work on the construction of the Old Glenn Highway. In 1950, he married Norma Kolshus of International Falls, Minn. He convinced her to travel the Alcan Highway and ultimately drove it 43 times. They settled in Fairbanks and had four children. In 1965, they moved to Anchorage, where Norma was a teacher and Bob worked as an electrician for City Electric. He spent more than 30 years building much of Alaska's electrical infrastructure. In 1974, they moved to Eagle River. Many happy days were spent at the Blodgett Lake cabin he built with his four children. In their retirement years they traveled to all 50 states and spent winters in Chandler, Ariz. Norma passed away in 2006. Bob later met Emma Robinson and spent 11 years traveling with her between Chicago, Ill., Arizona, and Alaska, until her passing in April 2020.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Morene; wife, Norma; siblings, Edward Dobson, Maurice Dobson, Gertrude Snyder and Ruth Nelson; and dear companion, Emma Robinson.

He is survived by his children, Shala Dobson (Jim), Steve Dobson (Judy), Kristy Laird (Emmett) and Alane Wightman (Dave); eight grandchildren, Michelle Ayers, Dyann Hardy, Dayna Laird, Scott Dobson, Kristin Campbell, Lauren Hazelton, Scott Wightman and Alyson Drost; and 17 great-grandchildren.

He will be laid to rest at Fort Richardson National Cemetery with a private family ceremony.

To share words of comfort with the family go to www.legacyalaska.com.