March 1, 1929 - August 8, 2021
Bob's work-life included driving the Globe Miami Stage and running the projector at the Miami theaters. He worked for Rhor Aircraft near San Diego, California, and learned to sandblast, but got homesick and returned to Globe-Miami. His police career started when he got a job as a radio dispatcher with Gila County Sheriff Jack Jones. He went on to work for the Arizona State Highway Department's road crew in Florence. Bob knew something about dynamite and was blasting a small area which resulted in him blowing up an entire guard rail. He then transferred to Driver's License in Florence, then to Phoenix, and back to Globe-Miami for Driver's License/ MVD Enforcement where he retired as a supervisor (1957-1991).
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Bob was active in his community. He was Akela for Cub Scouts in Florence and was the PTA chairman as well. He coached Babe Ruth baseball teams to all-star competition. He was on the Globe Elks Youth Activity, Elk of the Month, and Elk of the Year. He was chairman of the Gila County Rodeo committee and Globe Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Month. Bob is a Fraternal Order of Police member and current president of Gila Lodge #6. The lodge was constructed with the help of the local CB's and was the host of the Fraternal Order of Police state convention. For many years, the F.O.P. members operated the fry bread booth at the Gila County rodeo and horse races. Bob was awarded the Fraternal Order of Police Outstanding Service award. Bob was a contributor to the History of Gila County for the Arizona Memory Project (discovergilacounty.co).
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Bob enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, A.S.U. football, Dale Earnhardt, Roy Rogers, John Wayne movies and Gunsmoke.
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Bob was preceded in death by his parents Isabelle and John Duber and his daughter-in-law Carol Duber. He is survived by Ann, his wife of 71 years, his son Robert Duber II, daughter Kathy Bolinger (Jess), and four grandchildren John (Anastacia), Chris (Jeni), Lindsay (Jason), and Michael (Mandi). Bob also leaves behind his great-grandchildren Madison, Alexis, Patrick, Kadence, Charlotte, Lillian, Rhett, Adeline, Jase, and Andrew.
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Bob Duber's life was filled with complications, difficulties, success, friendships, and many joys. He even considered writing a book but it just didn't happen.
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Bob passed away on August 8, 2021, exactly 39 years after his mother, Isabelle Duber, died (August 8, 1982).
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Services were held on Sunday, August 15, 2021 at the Globe Elks Lodge B.P.O.E #489.
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Assisting the family; Lamont Mortuary of Globe.
Robert Duber Sr. was born in a farmhouse in Bridgeport, Illinois on March 1, 1929, to Isabelle Akers Freese and Joseph Freese. Soon after Bob's birth, Joseph was seriously injured in an automobile accident and died from complications from the accident. Isabelle moved to Arizona and Bob followed. Isabelle met and married John Duber.
Bob legally became Robert Duber and was John and Isabelle's only child.
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During his young years, Bob was injured in a fall. While receiving treatments and surgeries he walked using crutches. At the age of eighteen, a failed surgery left him impaired for life and he was told that he would never walk again. His willpower gave him the strength and determination to physically do the impossible.
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His family life and activities included growing up in John's Tri-City Garage and Parts Shop where Bob learned about automobiles front to back, part by part. He was driving at the age of seven. Car racing was a hobby he loved and he built jalopies (called jalopies for a reason) and raced on the old race track on Highway 60, the Ellsworth race track in Globe, the Fodera track in Wheatfields, and other tracks outside this area. He would work on an old car all week to race to win a case of beer or an occasional $25.00 purse which would pay for parts to get ready to race again the next week. That was until Bill Cheesbourg came to Globe-Miami to race.
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When Bob was about four years old the family lived in a tent where a crew including John Duber worked for contractor Harry Hagen building the highway through the Salt River Canyon. Years later, Bob and a crew strung speaker wires across the canyon for an Easter Sunrise Service.
