I have been young, and now am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging bread. Psalm 37:25
Gordon Verlin Storment of Roseville, California, passed away on March 4, 2024. He was survived by Sandy, his wife of 65+ years; his five children: Matthew, Philip, LoriAnn, Jennifer and Becky; 16 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
Gordon, or Bob as he was known by his family and friends, was born in Stigler, Oklahoma on February 28, 1936 to Gordon and Iva Lee Storment. He was the youngest of four children. When Bob was a young boy, the family relocated to central California.
In December 1956, Bob met a young lady named Sandra Dickson at church. They were introduced by Bob's sister, Glenna. Sandy was not interested in Bob because she thought he looked like a hoodlum. Bob continued to attend church. Finally, Sandy relented and went on a group date to the Johnny Max Drive-In to get burgers. That was the start of their 67 years together.
On June 22, 1958, Bob and Sandy were married in Mt. View, California. Soon after their marriage, Bob reported to Fort Ord for Army basic training. After basic training, he was stationed at the Presidio in San Francisco. Bob was in the U.S.Army for two years. He then went to work for Pacific Gas & Electric.
Anyone who knew Bob learned quickly that he was passionate about a few things: family, fishing, baseball and Jesus.
Family: Bob was a faithful and devoted husband to Sandy for 65+ years. He was a hard-working provider and spiritual leader in his family. He was faithful to bring his family to church every week. He not only went to church; he was a servant who lead by example: served as a deacon, adult Bible class teacher, and youth leader. Bob's grandchildren were his pride and joy. If you were nearby, you were going to hear about them and see the latest pictures.
Fishing: Whenever summer arrived; Bob could often be found on the banks of a river with a line in the water. Camping trips to Camp Shasta or Camp Pit always included a few days of fishing on the Pit River, Iron Canyon Reservoir, or Hatt Creek. The past 25 years, Bob would make the trip over to Nevada to go fishing with his son-in-law, Phillip. They would spend many memorable days on the Walker River. Bob knew how to find the good fishing spots on the river, how to wait patiently. Fishing inspired friendly competition between family members. We learned how to slow down, relax and have a beautiful day.
Baseball: Bob coached baseball for decades. First, when his sons, Matt and Phil, were young boys in Little League. He continued coaching baseball teams in city leagues and church teams. He not only coached the players; he instilled the value of commitment, teamwork, and consistent practice. He also modeled how to be a humble winner and a gracious loser.
Jesus: Ever since Bob came to the Lord, he was a changed man. Everything he did and said was to honor his Savior. It is evident in the stories we have heard in recent weeks. His faith had a tremendous impact on many. Even in the last days of his life, one would find him reading Scripture. Sometimes, when he was sitting with his eyes closed; we thought he was sleeping. Suddenly, he would raise his hands and sing songs of praise to the Lord. Even in pain, he praised the Lord.
We miss Dad/Bob tremendously. We are grieved that we will no longer hear his voice or see him sitting in his favorite chair reading the Bible.
We have this hope and knowledge: Dad is with Jesus. This is a temporary "good-bye".
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away. Revelation 21:4