Robert (Bob) Paulson

Born: August 30, 1945
Died: February 6, 2024
Age at Death: 78 years

Robert Lloyd Paulson February 6, 2024

Robert Lloyd Paulson was born on 30 August 1945 in Kearns, Utah to Jack Desmond and Maria Petronella (Everts) Paulson. As an infant, his family relocated to Sacramento, California where he resided until 1973. Bob was the eldest of three children. He attended McClatchy High School in Sacramento, graduating in 1963. He then attended Sacramento City College, where he met his eternal companion, Carolyn Francis Cooper. Together, they attended the University of California, Davis where Bob completed an undergraduate degree in Physics.

Bob and Cookie married in the Oakland Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 28 June 1968. Following their marriage, Bob pursued a doctoral degree in Solid State Physics, which he completed in 1973. He took a job teaching physics at California State University, Chico, where he stayed for his entire teaching career of 40 years, and where Bob and Cookie raised their three children, Julia, Kevin, and Debbie.

Bob loved teaching others how the universe worked and had an insatiable desire to answer the question of “Why?” During his tenure at Chico State, Bob served as Department Chair for several years. His favorite place, however, was in the classroom.

Bob loved music and played the piano very well. He instilled a love of music in the lives of his children and grandchildren, encouraging them to pursue lessons in piano and a variety of other musical instruments. He had the opportunity to teach a musical acoustics class at Chico State and loved interacting with the young music majors as he taught them why and how instruments and sound waves worked.

An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bob ministered daily to those around him. He served as Explorer Advisor, in Elders Quorum presidencies, in bishoprics, as Ward Mission Leader, Bishop of the Chico Student Ward, counselor in the Chico Stake Presidency, and in many other callings. Bob and Cookie had the opportunity to serve a full-time mission together in the Bulgaria Sofia Mission from 2009 to 2011 where Bob was a counselor in the Mission Presidency. They also served for many years in the California Roseville Mission in a similar capacity. Until recently when health challenges prohibited it, Bob also loved serving with Cookie as a temple worker in the Sacramento Temple. He had a strong connection to his ancestors and enjoyed gathering and connecting his family, past, present, and future.

Bob passed away peacefully on the morning of 6 February 2024 at the age of 78 by the side of his beloved and devoted wife of 55 years, Cookie. He is survived by her and their three children, Julia (Scott) Anderson, Kevin Paulson, and Debbie (Kelly) Freeman. He is also survived by his sister, Ruth Houseworth, and brother, Kenneth (Geneva) Paulson; sixteen grandchildren: William, John, Paul, Robert, Jacob, Sarah, Elizabeth, and David Oldroyd, Hannah, Seth, Rachel, Ashlynn, Katelynn, Alyssa, and Isla Freeman, and Dean Anderson; and seven great-grandchildren: Garrett, Claire, Hiram, Alina, Sam, and Spencer Oldroyd, and Archer Anderson.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents and many dear friends and loved ones, with whom we are confident he is having a blessed reunion.