Robert Elliot Newman, 84, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Bob was born on Sept. 17, 1939, in Albuquerque, N.M., to William and Lois Newman. Bob was one of 16 siblings.
Bob attended high school in Colton. He was married in 1962 to Beverly Atkins Pierce and raised their son, Rovaughn “Von,” and three stepchildren, Nick, Debbie and Sandy, in Pullman and Spokane. In 1990, Bob and Diane Welle were married in Seattle, and lived in the Seattle/Renton area where he became a loving stepfather to his Diane’s five children (Larry, Venita, Phil, Allan and Tina) for their 33 years of marriage.
Early in his adult life, Bob worked as a barber. He later entered into the real estate business, opening a real estate office in Pullman. He continued this career in Spokane then later in Seattle. In addition to real estate, he also worked as a contractor building apartment complexes in numerous locations across the country and as a real estate appraiser. Bob even worked as a firefighter for a short period of time in Pullman. In retirement, Bob and Diane managed their own rental portfolio, giving many people second chances in life by providing shared housing.
Bob was a jack-of-all-trades. He was a handyman doing carpentry work to repair and remodel his own homes and rental homes. During his time in Pullman, he was very involved in the Jaycees including the Junior Miss pageant, even traveling to the national pageant in Mobile, Ala. He earned his pilot’s license and owned a small plane for many years. He enjoyed fishing and spending time on the lake. He loved going to family activities, attending the kids/grandkids sporting events and musical performances and spending holidays with them. He and Diane loved to travel together. Bob enjoyed spending time with his extended family and was always there to help as he could.
Bob is survived by (step)children, Nick Sidwell (Sally), of Hayden, Debbie Michaels (Larry), of Oak Harbor Wash., Sandy Decker (Kevin), of Spokane, Larry Gourlie (partner Bekki Plumb), of Bothell, Wash., Venita Longley (Gary), of Burien, Wash., Phil Gourlie, of Arlington, Wash., Allan Gourlie (Julie), of Edmonds, Wash., Tina Boling (Mark), of Burien, Wash.; siblings, Shirley L. Mulvihill, of Renton Wash., Christopher Doby Newman (AJ), of Lenore, Gracie S. Newman Senter, of Pullman, (Guy), Helen Newman Snyder, of Lewiston, Andrea J. Newman Petersen (Mike), of Walla Walla, Patricia J. Newman Armiger, of Kamiah, 18 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Diane, his son Rovaughn Newman, his parents and siblings, Jack T. Layton, Rovaughn D. Newman, Alfred Lee Newman, James W. Newman, John I. Newman, Mitchell R. Newman, Mary K. Stone, Glenda Newman and Wanda Ann Newman.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at St. Boniface Catholic Church, 207 S. St. Boniface St., Uniontown. Interment will follow at the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery in Uniontown. Corbeill Funeral Home of Pullman is in charge of arrangements.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Uniontown Community Development Association, 419 N. Park, Uniontown, WA 99179. Online condolences may be sent to corbeillfuneralhomes.com.
