Robert Thompson Wages

Robert Thompson Wages left the confines of this world to be with the Lord in the early morning hours of February 20th, 2017.

Born on July 25th, 1928 to William and Irene Wages in Covington, Tennessee, Robert was raised with six siblings. They were part of that remarkable generation of Americans who grew up tough, matching the times of our nation during the Great Depression.

In early1946, at age 17, Robert began a 30 year military career by joining the Marines, a few months after the Japanese surrendered. In boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, he and his fellow “boots” battled their own war with the ticks, sand fleas and swamps. He always remembered boot camp with a wry smile. A year later he was stationed at the Marine Corps Supply Depot in Barstow, California where he met and married Joyce Adams.  As was the times, their first child, Robert Edward, followed within the year.

In 1950 the North Koreans swept south and his Marines were called to respond. Robert participated in the amphibious landing at Inchon and helped to liberate Seoul, South Korea. His command then participated in the historic Wonsan-Hungnam-Chosen Campaign in Northern Korea, appropriate called “The Frozen Chosen.” He seldom spoke of the Korean War until later in life, but Robert never liked the cold after the experience.

In August, 1951, Robert, now promoted to tech-sergeant, rotated stateside and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California where he and his wife had another child, Deborah Jane. In 1954, back in Barstow, master-sergeant Robert Wages became a second lieutenant in the Marines, receiving his commission on the same day his second son, Richard James, was born. Robert was proud of both.

Military men never remain long at one duty station and within two weeks of his new son’s birth, the family packed up the sedan and drove Route 66 east, eventually arriving at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he commanded Service Company-Motor Transport, 8th Engineer Battalion. A year later his third son, John David, arrived. In 1956, now a 1st lieutenant, Robert was sent back to Parris Island to help the Marine Corps investigate the infamous Ribbon Creek Incident in which six Marine recruits drowned in a night exercise. He always felt that the media coverage condemned SSgt McKeon before the facts were known.

But times change, and a few years later, back in Barstow after a year long deployment to Japan, and the birth of a second daughter, Kelly Elaine, Robert resigned his commission and left his beloved Marine Corps to spend more time his family.

In Barstow, he began work for the Santa Fe Railroad in 1959 as a journeyman machinist. He later worked at Nebo Annex Marine Corps Logistics Base repairing vehicles for the Marines. While there, he earned an associates degree from Barstow Jr. College.

After several tumultuous years, Robert and Joyce divorced.

Taking a deep breath, Robert moved his family to Apple Valley, California taking a commission as captain with the Army National Guard. There he commanded Company A, 1st Battalion, 185th Armor, 40th Armored Division.

Faced with raising his children alone and working full time while commuting 60 miles daily to Barstow and back, Robert met the love of his life, Sharon Cheeseman. Robert and Sharon soon married and began 46 wonderful years together.

In 1967, with Sharon’s urging, Bob resigned his commission in the guard and joined the Seabees, returning to his beloved ranks of an enlisted man. CMC Robert Wages, his wife and new daughter Judy Bea (his children with Joyce now resided with their mother) traveled to Rhode Island to join the MCB 58, deploying to Vietnam, Diego Garcia, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Gulfport, Mississippi. While in Rhode Island, he and Sharon adopted another daughter, Bobbie June. Bob often said that the men of MCB 58 were the finest he’d ever worked with. He loved the Seabees.

After 30 years of military service, because Robert had spent more than 10 years as an officer, he retired a Lieutenant in the Navy and returned to Barstow, California with his family. Robert was always proud that he had held officer commissions in three different branches of the military.

Now living in Hinkley, a small community outside Barstow, he rejoined the machine shop with Santa Fe Railroad, retiring at 65. 

After his children left home, he and his bride moved to Redmond and Culver, Oregon. He joined the American Legion, Post 44 in Redmond and became their chaplain, remaining at his post until his wife died in 2007. He called her his Admiral. For a while he was a ship without a rudder.

That soon changed when Robert moved to Nampa, Idaho to live with his daughter Judy and her sons, David and Ray Martinez. Never one to slow down, he joined the American Legion of Nampa and continued to serve the Lord as chaplain there. 

Robert loved to travel, attending CB reunions and visiting family in Alaska, Tennessee and California.  In 2014 the dream of traveling to Israel came true when he and his great friend Gary Thompson flew to the Promised Land and walked in the footprints of their savior, Jesus.

Robert Wages died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer at age 88. He is predeceased by his wife Sharon and daughter Bobbie June. Living in his memory are 6 children, 22 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and thousands of others he touched with his love and generosity in his lifetime.

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