Bob Coulter

On April 28th, 1938, so began the travels of Robert Darrel (Bob), who was born to Albert and Mary Coulter, in Glenwood Springs, CO. Grandpa and Grandma lived an adventurous and almost nomadic life with their family. Grandpa was a carpenter by trade and the family followed the jobs around western Colorado and Utah. Over the next 9 years 4 more siblings were added to the family- Phyllis, Richard, David and MaryAnn.

Dad had quite the adventures as a child! He survived Polio and had to relearn to walk at the age of 6, experienced the heat and bugs of Lubbock, TX before air conditioning, and survived a crazy hail storm out on the prairie with Aunt Phyllis by sheltering in a hole in the hay their Grandpa Young built for them. He delivered newspapers in Grand Junction and then created a paper distribution route in Palisades. And all of this by the age of 11.

At 12, he had his hernia fixed. Immediately after surgery, he wanted water, the nurse said no water for 12 hours. Dad tricked her into getting him water and then ended up puking… It was then he learned a lesson that he carried with him for many, many years, Do what the nurse says!!

In 1952, the family moved back to Glenwood Springs where he was almost expelled from school for fighting. Luckily for him his math teacher went to bat for him, and he ended up lettering in both 8 Man Football and Wrestling in 9th grade. He was 4'9" and weighed 90 pounds. They ended up moving to Grand Junction for the next two years of high school. They told him he was too small for football but he lettered both years in wrestling and even wrestled at the Colorado State Wrestling championship.

In August of 1955, instead of finishing his senior year of high school... He joined the Navy. That decision shaped his future and ended up being very beneficial for him.

The Navy allowed him to have many great adventures and gave him his introduction to his passion for computers and technology. He got his first experience with computers, radars and sonars in the Navy Fire Control Technician school. From there he was stationed on the USS Lexington and then the USS Shields. His final duty station was as an instructor at US Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL. While in the Navy he saw hurricanes aboard ships, traveled all over the world and developed and taught classes on Talos Missile System Guidance. He even coached softball, basketball and football teams while in the Navy. While at home in Grand Junction on leave, dad met Sharlee Mars. They were married on April 11, 1960 in Bremerton, WA. Dad and Sharlee welcomed their only child, Mark, on March 12, 1961. Dad was overseas when Mark was born.

Dad got out of the Navy in March of 64 and applied for jobs with IBM, AT&T and an insurance company. Luckily for him, IBM called and offered him a job in Phoenix, AZ. After some training, dad asked for a transfer to somewhere not so hot and was transferred to Kalispell, MT. Dad purchased his first home in Somers, MT. While in Somers, dad became a volunteer for the Somers Fire Department. Dad and Sharlee later divorced and she moved her and Mark back to Grand Junction.

While working in Libby in late 1971, he met Rosemary. They were married in March of 1972. Mom had 4 kids - Coral, Angela, Roan and Belinda. They decided before they were married that they would be one family and the kids would all be theirs, none of this his and hers stuff. Mom didn't want more kids but dad wanted one more. Needless to say, they added two more girls to the family, Dawn in 1973, and Elizabeth in 1975.

In 1976, dad won the Midas National Bowling tournament and was flown to Connecticut to compete in the Midas Pro-Am. This was a big deal for them, it was an all expense paid trip for mom and dad.

Dad's work with IBM ("I've Been Moved" as mom used to call it) took them on lots of adventures. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Somers, then Dutton, then Great Falls, but the first big move was the summer of 1978 when they moved to Endicott, New York with 4 of the 7 kids. Over the next 10 years, Endicott was home base for the family, but dad was always getting temporary assignments to new places so they would pack up and move to wherever dad was going next.

In 1988, mom and dad just had Dawn and Elizabeth left at home. They sold the house in New York and made a big move back out west but moving to Idaho didn't really stop them from moving around. From 1988 to 2004, mom and dad moved 8 more times before moving to their house on 8th Street. Dad retired from IBM in 1993. They spent several years in Salmon where they continued to be active with bowling and the Eagles Lodge.

Dad was a very social person. He spent hundreds of hours coaching youth bowlers across the many states they lived in. He was a member of the American Legion, VFW, DAV and when they moved to Idaho Falls he joined the Eagles Lodge. Both mom and dad enjoyed the many years they spent as part of the Eagles. Dad was a past president for both the local Aerie and the state Aerie. He spent hundreds of hours helping raise funds for multiple organizations during his time with the Eagles.

Mom and dad created quite the family legacy, we will forever debate how many grandchildren and great grandchildren there are, cause there are a lot. We also have our Sherri. She has been an angel for our family and they introduced her as their adopted daughter, a role she definitely earned.

Dad was the world's oldest computer geek. He worked for IBM for 29 years before retiring. Then, he started Coulter Computer Consulting while in Salmon and helped many small businesses over the years. Even as he continued to age, he still stayed very active in technology. He continuously rebuilt his computer system just for something to do. Up until a few months before his death, he could fix almost any computer problem you threw at him.

In March of 2021, mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Dad took care of her until she passed on June 17, 2024. To quote dad, "We have had a great life together, however I am now lost again."

He is not lost anymore… On March 18th, 2026, the world's oldest computer geek was reunited with the love of his life at the great mainframe in the sky.

Dad was under the care of Eden Home Health and his loving family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mary; siblings: Phyllis (Dale) Sills, David (Penny) Coulter, MaryAnn Warner, daughter Elizabeth Cromwell; grandson, Ryan Coulter; and daughter-in-law, Cindy Coulter.

He is survived by his children: Coral (Randy) Maxwell of Darby, MT, Mark Coulter of Victorville, CA, Angela (Robert) Birnel of Eureka, MT, Roan (Linn) Ferguson of Flatwoods, KY, Belinda (Tom) Jones of Elkton, MD and Dawn (Charlie) Anderson of Idaho Falls, ID; brother, Richard (Tammy) Coulter; as well as lots and lots of grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Military rites with a Celebration of Life to follow on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 1-4 p.m. at 6535 South Holmes Ave, Idaho Falls, ID. The location is on the southeast corner of W 65th South and S Holmes.