POTTS, ROBERT, February 18, 1919 – January 7, 2008

Robert Potts, 88, of Malad, passed away in Yuma, Arizona on January 7, 2008. He was born February 18, 1919 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, a son of Jess and Thelma Glee Potts. He was raised in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas, as his father worked in the oil fields. He graduated from high school in Madison, Kansas, and later attended Iola College.

He joined the Army Air Corps and was stationed in California. He married Betty Fox and they later divorced.

Bob spent 23 years in the military and had served in World War Ii, the Korean War and during the Vietnam conflict, all in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 1964. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service, the BLM and for the Idaho Job Corps. For several years he coached football and basketball for the Job Corps and the Air Force teams stationed out of Mountain Home.

He met and married Joan Williams in 1978 in Malad, and they enjoyed 28 years of marriage. They had especially enjoyed traveling together to many places.

Bob was a member of the American Legion Ernest W. Jones Post No. 65 in Malad, the Retired Officers and Reserve Officers and was the oldest member of the Idaho Sons of the American Legion. He had also served as commander of the Malad and Caldwell American Legion Posts. For the past 18 years he was on the Idaho American Legion Finance Commission.

He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Elks Lodge. He was a member of the First Christian Church.

Bob is survived by his wife, Joan of Malad; two sons; Steven (Brandi) Potts of Caldwell, Idaho, Scott Leavitt of Malad; a daughter, JoDell (Jay) Harrod of Dallas, Texas; 23 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, Dorothy Potts, Ruth Chugg and Nadine Potts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister and a great-grandson.

Funeral services will be held January 14, 2008 in the Horsley Funeral Home, Malad, ID. Burial will follow in the Samaria Cemetery.