Robert Dean Gonzales

Robert "Bob" Dean Gonzales, 83 of Phoenix, Arizona passed away at his home on July 10, 2017. He was born 83 years ago in Augusta, Kansas to Frank and Lupe Gonzales. He was the youngest of eight children. Bob graduated from high school in Augusta in 1952 and shortly afterward he left Kansas and “never looked back”. During the 1960’s and 1970’s Bob lived in San Francisco, California and worked for United Airlines and also in Seattle, Washington where he worked for Alaska Airways. He eventually settled in the Phoenix, Arizona area and went into business for himself as a dealer in fine Native American Arts. He was owner of the Robert Dean Galleries in Scottsdale and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He made many lifelong friends that were clients and customers. Bob loved sports and attended all types live sporting events with baseball and basketball being his favorites. He enjoyed fine dining; movies; concerts; and plays---but most of all Bob enjoyed the company of his many friends. He loved people and people loved him. Bob had a passion for travel and had traveled the world and he would share memories of his adventure with his family. As a child I cherished his visits and the wisdom he would offer and as an adult I enjoyed our long conversations that were too few and far between. During one correspondence, he wrote the following: “I finally realized that I do like living here in Phoenix, it suits me at my age, but my heart is in New York. I try to go twice a year and I seem to have lots of friends there. I am blessed to have managed to succeed and live this long. I have had a wonderful life, have seen most of the world and have meet some wonderful people along the way. Verne Moser (school friend) told me when he was in China he had to pinch himself being from Augusta and here he was in China and I told him that I would be black and blue if I pinched myself every time something wonderful happened to me. I been accepted by so many wonderful people. I been to the mountain as Martin Luther King would say.” One could say more but he seems to have said it all…Goodbye Bob you will be missed…Left to cherish his memory are his sister, Esther Mayes of Wichita, Kansas and 7 nephews, plus many great nephews and nieces

A Celebration of Robert's life will be held on Thursday, August 24, 2017 at 10:00 AM at Richardson Funeral Home, 2621 South Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona. Richardson Funeral Home, Tempe, Arizona is compassionately serving the family.

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Celebration of Life

Thursday August 24th, 2017

10:00am

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