DOWNEY - Robert Bruce "Bob" Acree, 87, died Dec. 7 of congestive heart failure.He was born Nov. 19, 1926 in Whitebead, Garvin County, Okla., to the late James Lowell Acree and Gladys Juanita Fleming-Acree. As a child he attended the one-room Beaty School and later Pauls Valley High School. Following school he worked as a timberman for the railroad throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. At age 19 he joined the U.S. Army and served from 1945-1947 with occupation forces on Okinawa, Japan. He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant. In 1947, Bob married Frances Louise Markham. The couple moved from Oklahoma to Los Angeles. Frances, however, became homesick and returned home where their son, Danny Dale Acree, was born on May 23, 1948. The couple divorced a year later. Bob remained in Los Angeles and began work sweeping floors for Soule Steel Company. With support from his employer, Bob completed college courses and earned special certifications as a purchasing agent. He retired from the company 35 years later as plant manager. On Jan. 7, 1962, Bob married his second wife, Maria M. Moretti. The couple lived in Downey until Maria's death in 1995. The couple had no children. During the last three years of his life, Bob resided at Lakewood Gardens, an assisted living center in Downey. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Herbert Louis Acree, Paul Gene Acree and Donald Lee Acree. He is survived by his sister, Wilma King, of Annadale, Va., and son, Danny Acree, of Denison, Tex. A private graveside service will be held for friends and relatives on a date to be determined at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pauls Valley, Okla.

********** Published: Jan. 30, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 42