Bob Fosdick was born in Eureka in 1949 to Virginia and Homer Fosdick, Sr. He passed away in December of 2024 peacefully, at home, with his girls by his side, after a battle with cancer — a cancer he had been free from for 18 years, which then came back very aggressively this past year. Through it all, Bob managed to make people crack up laughing even in sad times.

Bob was a resident of Eureka his whole life and grew up near the Henderson Center area. His first job was paper delivery boy which he did riding his bike at the age of 12 with his dog Picolo following him. He was a graduate of Eureka High School, Class of 1968. After high school, Bob went on to enlist in the Army, where he was stationed in Germany and worked as a mechanic. He loved working on cars and made a career out of it. He worked at Shieman’s in Eureka as the head transmission builder for years, and in 1993, his dream of owning his own shop came to life. He opened a transmission shop, K & R Automotive (named after his girls). He worked specializing in transmissions most of his life and he liked to tell the story that he was only 12 years old when he removed a transmission from one car and placed it in another.

For decades, Bob loved being involved in the car races at Redwood Acres. He really enjoyed working on friends’ cars and helped them with their transmissions and pit crews. He was a hard worker and would be in his shop or home garage working on cars morning, noon, night, including weekends. In the rare times he wasn’t working, he would be at other friends’ shops having a beer and talking about cars. With his love of fast cars, he enjoyed traveling to other racetracks including Sears Point Raceway. He was a collector of trucks and classic cars. He reminisced about the days of driving his old truck and his Camaro. For fun, he loved playing the lottery or visiting Reno where he was known to hit a jackpot at the last minute before leaving.

He took his girls on several trips in the ’80s and ’90s, driving his dad’s old ‘66 chevy truck (Old Brown) and his ’70s Cadillac over summer breaks to places like Disneyland, Marine World and Great America. And, of course, he took them to Reno, where he taught the girls how to gamble. He also enjoyed taking them to the horse races out at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. Bob also loved being with his grandchildren and even bought his own car seats for his truck to drive them around. He loved having them over at his house and would take them to the store to pick out candy, soda and chips. He would also take them out to the stock car races which they all remember fondly. He loved his girls and grandchildren so much; he was always available to rescue them in the drop of a hat no matter the reason, the time of day, and with no questions asked. Although grouchy and stubborn at times, he was a kind and generous man, an amazing dad and grandpa.

In 1976, Bob married Deborah Hendry and they had two daughters in the late ’70s. Together they owned and operated a Shell Service Station in Smith River for a few years with Debbie pumping gas and Bob working on cars. In 1992, Bob married Cynthia Golich. Together they enjoyed stock car races, camping/boating at Trinity Lake, going to Reno to play Keno and slots and spending time with friends. Although divorced in 1997, they remained good friends, always having family gatherings together with their children.

He is preceded in death by his parents Virginia and Homer, Sr. and his sister Janet Fosdick Miller. He is survived by his brothers Homer, Jr. (wife Sherri), and Donald Fosdick, brother-in-law Alan Miller. Survived by daughter, Kimberly Fosdick, her children Justin, Bree and Danica Baeza and their father Daniel Baeza. Daughter, Roberta Conn, her children Alexis, Emily, Fancy and Luca (Michael Offield). Tony Prosser and his son Kanyon. Jolene Prosser and her husband Will Tift and their daughter Maya. Great-grandchildren KJ and Kash Thomas, and Mikey Offield. Niece Abby Fosdick (Max) and their children Aria and Micah.

Special thanks to dad’s good friend Tim McCracken (Amy) for all his help, support and friendship throughout the years — you were more than a friend and considered family. Angelo Marcelli for being a lifelong friend to dad and for taking him on the drives that he loved to go on these past months. Ang and Roberta Marcelli were a staple of our family’s life for decades and we appreciate everything they have done. There are many fond memories of our families together. Thank you to all of dad’s friends around town, too many to name but know that you are appreciated, loved and were talked of fondly by dad. You all made a positive impact on him.

Special thanks to Cindy Fosdick, who took him to doctor appointments and helped at the hospital in Walnut Creek and San Francisco to support his daughters during a tough time as well with his final days of life. Thank you to Jolene Prosser for all her support in dad’s stays at hospitals and in the last days of his life and to Tony Prosser for helping dad into the house after being discharged from the hospital in October.

Special thanks to his granddaughter’s father, Gerald Green, who is always helping at dad’s house including preparing the house for dad’s return from his hospital stays and for anything that was needed.

Thank you Dr. Sumana Jothi, ENT doctor in Martinez, for all the years of excellent care you gave dad. He trusted you like no other medical professional and thought very highly of you.

Thank you to the San Francisco Veterans Medical Center for the kind care you gave dad and for helping us to fulfill his wish of “take me home no matter what.”

Thank you to the very kind and caring people at Hospice of Humboldt. We are grateful for your help during this difficult time.

In September, dad said to be sure everyone knows that he “loved them all very much.” We took this as he loved everyone: family and friends.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka and a celebration of life will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Speedway Club at Redwood Acres under the grandstand. Everyone who knew dad is welcome to attend.