Robert James McFarlin

 (1958 – 2023)

OBITUARY PROVIDED BY THE FAMILY

ROBERT JAMES MCFARLIN

April 14, 1958 – May 28, 2023

Robert James McFarlin was born on April 14, 1958, and passed away on May 28, 2023. He is survived by a brother, Jim (wife Janet) McFarlin, Jr.; an aunt, Teri (husband Bill) Barr; an uncle, Matt McGinnis; a niece, Kristen (husband Dustin) Wilson, a great-niece, Lyra Wilson; and a nephew, Jim (wife Jessy) McFarlin III. Robert was predeceased by his parents, Jim, Sr. and Ruth McGinnis McFarlin, and two brothers, Jerry Russell and John Russell.

When Robert was born on April 14, 1958, he was brought home to the only house he ever knew as his “family home” in Sunland, California. He grew up there, attending Apperson Street Elementary School, Mt. Gleason Junior High School, and was graduated from Verdugo Hills High School. While in high school, Bob (as most knew him) organized a band with friends. That band was hired to play for the high school Jr/Sr prom on more than one occasion. Bob excelled in comprehension skills and was an avid reader in many genres.

As Bob became a young adult, he continued to lead and play in bands, one of which was named “Frienz.” As one Facebook tribute noted, “Bob was heavy on friends!” His band was the house band at Whisky-a-Go-Go on Sunset Blvd. for a time. He and one of his friends also had a song, “Six Seconds in Dallas,” selected for the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Many of the tributes posted on social media remembered Bob’s guitar playing and his bands. Bob worked at several jobs besides his music career: building travel campers as a teen, managing restaurants, and becoming a certified independent film-maker. He furthered his formal education at Pasadena City College, Glendale Community College and San Diego Miramar College. He became a Licensed Mechanic for aircraft powerplants, eventually becoming a chief inspector plus serving as a supervisor in management. Bob joined a machinist’s union, rising to the position of shop steward. He later became the President of his Local. He also became a licensed Realtor at some point! Bob loved family, travel, movies and music, especially classic rock. In 2010, he and his bandmates/friends completed a memorable project, “The L.A. Woman Sessions,” a tribute to the Doors’ final classic album. This endeavor was a highlight of Bob’s life.

As Bob’s father and his mother entered their elder years, Bob retired from his career to move back into his childhood home to become their caregiver. He was a hero to our entire family for his sacrifice, dedication and loving attention to them, taking devoted care of them for about a decade. After his dad passed in 2011, and his mom in 2013, he resumed his travel adventures. He loved to spend time with family, traveling to their homes all over America and even spending time with relatives in England on several trips.

Family and friends gathered to honor and celebrate the life of Robert James McFarlin at Oakwood Memorial Park and Cemetery, Chatsworth, CA, where many members of the McFarlin family are interred. The service on June 21, 2023 was a special time of reflections and tributes to Bob.