Meet Bob, an Amazing Volunteer for PCA!

Meet Bob, One of Our Volunteers!

"Some 20-25 years ago I began noticing during sporadic trips downtown an old cemetery, a lifelong "magnet" for me. At the time I was a professional in that business, successfully working for a large Metro-wide funeral and cemetery company. It wasn't long before I was telling myself, "When you retire you must get involved with that old cemetery!", 

knowing nothing about it nor who was buried, there. My journey toward retirement kept stretching out but my curiosity about the old cemetery intensified. When I found myself voluntarily working part-time, after leaving funeral & cemetery employment, it was time to find out what was going on, down there at 13th Ave. and Jefferson Street. 

 Strangely, I no longer recall my earliest exposure to PMMP and PCA, though I became "hooked" and was soon driving there most Thursday mornings. Being a "hobby historian" and loving my new (arrived in '93) Phoenix home, I became enthralled with the stories emanating from those graves and the living, breathing activities of such venerable PCA members as Marge West, Diane Sumrall and several others. Studying, learning, knowing all I could became my passion of those days. 

 It wasn't long before PCA members noticed my interest and attendance, which of course led to being recruited as for assigned PCA tasks and, soon, as a Board member. Elected Secretary, my responsibilities intensified. No easy task getting those Minutes written accurately though "the new guy on the block". Some "bumps in the road" (would "sunken graves" be a better cliche?) but overall, satisfaction and annual reelection for several years. Recent years, a sort of "PCA semi-retirement", find me on the Tuesday work crew with such venerable volunteers as Lamm, Foster, O'Neil and Jackson, an enjoyable crew of cemeterians. You know: trash control, rock aligning and other "janitorial " tasks.

 Giving a little money from time to time to the Grave Marker Preservation Committee" keeps me in good stead" with that truly professional PCA volunteer committee, too. Personal and family retirement activities keep me off that committee so a bit of "greenery" helps out.  

Maintaining the stories of and resting places of Phoenix and Arizona pioneers is a worthy and mighty important venture. I thank Pioneers' Cemetery Association for the ongoing opportunity to help."

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