Robert (Bob) Ehnat was born in Tacoma, Washington on April 23, 1925 and passed away peacefully on February 17, 2015 at his home in Shoreline, in the company of his loving family. Son of Paul and Gladys Ehnat, he is survived by his wife Diane and his three children, Robert, Valerie (Patton) and Felicia (Persson), son-in-law Kevin Persson, his three granddaughters, Nicole and Courtney Persson and Sophia Patton, brother Walter and his wife Joanne, of Phoenix, Arizona and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob served honorably in the Navy during WWII rising to the rank of Petty Officer First Class. While stationed at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor, he met H. Diane Pravitz (then a high-school senior) at a USO dance in nearby, Coupeville. Following the end of the war, and his honorable discharge, he and Diane were married in Renton, Washington in 1947. That same year, Bob went to work for the Washington State Department of Agriculture. After 33 years of service with Washington State, Bob retired from his position as Chief Deputy Inspector for the state of Washington in 1980.
Bob and Diane began developing their interest in travel before his retirement; purchasing 
time shares in Hawaii and traveling to the South Pacific to visit friends in Fiji, and explore Australia and New Zealand. After retirement, they spent many months on the road with their travel trailer and later their motor home seeing the country, visiting friends and family and meeting new friends at every stop. One of their many adventures took them and their trailer on railroad cars through the Copper Canyon in Mexico.
Bob loved fishing and sharing his passion for fishing with friends and family. He had an unconventional style that couldn’t be taught or reproduced. Whether fishing salmon on Puget Sound, or the Columbia river or fishing for trout, bass or perch at Sun Lakes, his luck was renowned and sometimes, it seemed, his every cast blessed.
Traveler, fisherman, golfer and football fan, he was a loving husband, father and friend, and an incorrigible tease with a ready smile. He had an enduring sense of humor and a helping hand for those in need.
We will miss him.
A Celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Saturday, March 28th from 2PM to 4PM at The Pavilion at Tacoma Elks/Allenmore Golf and Event Center (2013 S Cedar St. Tacoma, Washington). The family invites you to share your memories of Bob here: http://www.bartonfuneral.com/category/obituaries A donation may be made in Bob’s memory to the American Lung Association (http://www.lung.org).