McAuslin

UMATILLA – Robert Lee “Bob” McAuslin, 87, of Umatilla died Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, surrounded by his family and friends. A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 in the Umatilla Community Presbyterian Church.

Mr. McAuslin was born April 3, 1922, to Lancelot and Dorothy McAuslin. He grew up in Detroit and Algonac, Mich., and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from Algonac High School in 1940 and began sailing on the Great Lakes. During the World War II, he graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy and sailed in convoys to Europe and along the Atlantic Coast. He and Joyce Warner were married at the Merchant Marine Academy in New London, Conn., in 1944, and Joyce followed him to various ports when he sailed along the coast. After the war they returned to Algonac, where he worked in construction. In 1949 the family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where their sons were born. In 1952, they moved to Green Cove Springs, Fla. In 1959 he returned to his first love, the sea. In 1960 the whole family moved to Jacksonville, Fla.

He worked as a tugboat captain and docking pilot in Jacksonville as well taking barges via tugboats from Jacksonville to San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1966 the family moved to the Canal Zone in Panama. He was a tugboat captain from 1966-1969. In Nov. 1969 he realized his dream job when he became a Panama Canal ship pilot. While a pilot he also held many different positions with the Panama Canal Commission. He retired in April 1984 and he and Joyce made their retirement home in Umatilla.

Mr. McAuslin is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce McAuslin of Umatilla; daughter Nancy DeSelover of Kennewick, Wash.; sons Robert McAuslin, Jr. of Hickory Valley, Tenn., and Richard McAuslin of Jacksonville, Fla.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister Dorothy Mansberger.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239-3009.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.