Clunie, Robert Richard, aged 65, succumbed Monday morning, May 27, 2002, Memorial Day, to internal infection caused by incarcerated umbilical hernia, (evidently a perforation caused a balloon which kinked), He mistakenly assumed it to be an ulcer and elected to use fasting and prayer which had worked at other times. Maintaining God had told him He would see him through, Bob refused to see a doctor or medical treatment. God did see him through to his heart's desire, "experiencing the presence of Jesus all the time."
Bob was born in Sonora, CA, April 19, 1937. His father, Robert Morris Clunie, a SF lawyer, was mining for gold. His mother, Rosalie Jean nee Mossman was a graduate of RN Nursing at Stanford. She was of Hawaiian heritage.
He is remembered by his High School class of 55, Burlingame High, Burlingame, CA, as lead singer in a group he helped form, Four Sharps and a Flat which sang at many functions and recorded several songs. He was Chaplain of his YMCA group, dancer of his class, runner- up for Class President, and voted 'most likely to succeed.' In the 60's he went six years to college with AA degree, received a general discharge from Army Reserve and an honorable discharge early release from the Army.
His main interests in High School were sports, tennis, baseball and football. His major in college was Clinical Psychology and Eastern Religions. He wrote a novel, unpublished. He is remembered by his commune friends as a 'mountain' man; by his friends on the road as a 'truckin'man; and by his friends in Gospel work as the 'traveling-missionary-flea-market' man.
A unique character, Bob was a 'Bohemian warrior' on the side of the 'little-guy'. His hilarious stories made him the life of the party. He received a minister's license from International Healing Cathedral, Phoenix, AZ. where he spoke twice yearly at conventions. He and his wife, Shelley, co-pastored Valley Helping Hands, a So. California mission to campers, homeless and snowbirders. Their Clunie family singers had many opportunities to sing Gospel songs Shelley wrote, Bob accompanying on guitar and piano. (There are several audio recordings and videos).
He is survived by his wife, Shelley; brother, Thomas D. Millard of Mill Valley; son Dylan Clunie of Reno NV, grandsons Everett, Garett, and Alex; son Boaz Clunie of Chico CA, grandson Jaden; sons Caleb and Joshua Clunie of San Antonio TX, grandson Phoenix.
The funeral was held Friday May 31 at First Presbyterian Church of San Antonio TX where he had moved in 1999. Special arrangements are being considered for ashes to be interred at a site in Humboldt County Redwoods later.
