The funeral service for Bob Bogle was held at the Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Vancouver, Washington on Friday, June 19, 2009, with the Reverend Richard Turner officiating. Many, many friends and family were in attendance.
Bob’s wife, Yumi, had selected the music to be played during the service – Ventures’ tracks on which Bob played Lead Guitar – of course, ‘Walk Don’t Run’, then ‘Eye of the Tiger’, ‘Oh Happy Day’ and ‘What the World Needs Now is Love’ – from the ‘Rocky’ CD. Bob poured his heart and soul into those recordings – the original title was to have been ‘The Ventures’ Inspirational Album’, but was later changed – but the music was clearly inspirational at the service.
The cards distributed at the memorial contained the following beautiful sentiments:
When I die if you need to weep
Cry for your brother or sister
Walking the street beside you
And when you need me, put your arms around anyone
And give them what you need to give me.
I want to leave you something
Something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I’ve known or loved
And if you cannot give me away
At least let me live in your eyes, and not on your mind.
You can love me most by letting hands touch hands
By letting bodies touch bodies
And by letting go of children that need to be free.
Love doesn’t die, people do
So when all that’s left of me is love
Give me away.
Bob was eulogized by Don Wilson, by the Washington State Lt. Governor, Brad Owen, and by his long-time friend, Dave Callaham. Don’s eulogy is below:
You know, it’s a damn shame that you have to die to get the recognition you deserve. Nobody played lead guitar like Bob; he had a certain sound that was so different and recognizable, there was no mistaking it was The Ventures. In 1960, no-one had heard a guitar sound like his. It caused so many would-be guitar players to either learn
‘Walk Don’t Run’, or go out and buy a guitar in order to learn ‘Walk Don’t Run’. Someone said it’s the greatest 2 minutes in rock history.
Bob’s guitar playing was one of a kind. His bass playing was one of a kind. And HE personally was one of a kind. Bob was very kind, very giving and very sincere. Anyone who met Bob liked him immediately. He was charming, yet seemed a little bit shy – a combination that worked very well for him – naturally – nothing put on – no ego, and the last one to brag about himself or his music.
When I first met Bob in 1958, I remember that I liked him immediately. After knowing him a short time, it seemed like I had known him forever. We had a great rapport right away. He was my very best friend. He was the brother that I never had. Although he didn’t finish school, he was very smart. What he lacked in knowledge or talent, he made up 1000 times in perseverance. If he started something, he finished it – a musician, a pilot, a recording engineer and much more.
I remember so many good laughs we had together, laughing so hard we had tears! He really had a wonderful sense of humor. Just like me, he loved a good joke or comedian. We had good times and tough times together, for 51 years. And believe it or not, in all those 51 years, we never, ever had an argument. Never!
It’s too bad not enough people understand the contribution that Bob created in the world of music. You have touched so many lives, and will be missed by all. The guitar may be silenced, but your reverb and echo will live on forever, for up-and-coming guitar players into generations, year after year after year.
You will never be forgotten. I couldn’t begin to tell you how much I will miss you, every day. Your battle is over. God bless you, Bob Bogle. Rest in peace, my friend.
As we left the chapel, the heavens opened and it poured with rain. Bob always loved rain – perhaps the heavens were crying for him.
The funeral service for Bob Bogle was held at the Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Vancouver, Washington on Friday, June 19, 2009, with the Reverend Richard Turner officiating. Many, many friends and family were in attendance.
Bob’s wife, Yumi, had selected the music to be played during the service – Ventures’ tracks on which Bob played Lead Guitar – of course, ‘Walk Don’t Run’, then ‘Eye of the Tiger’, ‘Oh Happy Day’ and ‘What the World Needs Now is Love’ – from the ‘Rocky’ CD. Bob poured his heart and soul into those recordings – the original title was to have been ‘The Ventures’ Inspirational Album’, but was later changed – but the music was clearly inspirational at the service.
The cards distributed at the memorial contained the following beautiful sentiments:
When I die if you need to weep
Cry for your brother or sister
Walking the street beside you
And when you need me, put your arms around anyone
And give them what you need to give me.
I want to leave you something
Something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I’ve known or loved
And if you cannot give me away
At least let me live in your eyes, and not on your mind.
You can love me most by letting hands touch hands
By letting bodies touch bodies
And by letting go of children that need to be free.
Love doesn’t die, people do
So when all that’s left of me is love
Give me away.
Bob was eulogized by Don Wilson, by the Washington State Lt. Governor, Brad Owen, and by his long-time friend, Dave Callaham. Don’s eulogy is below:
You know, it’s a damn shame that you have to die to get the recognition you deserve. Nobody played lead guitar like Bob; he had a certain sound that was so different and recognizable, there was no mistaking it was The Ventures. In 1960, no-one had heard a guitar sound like his. It caused so many would-be guitar players to either learn
‘Walk Don’t Run’, or go out and buy a guitar in order to learn ‘Walk Don’t Run’. Someone said it’s the greatest 2 minutes in rock history.
Bob’s guitar playing was one of a kind. His bass playing was one of a kind. And HE personally was one of a kind. Bob was very kind, very giving and very sincere. Anyone who met Bob liked him immediately. He was charming, yet seemed a little bit shy – a combination that worked very well for him – naturally – nothing put on – no ego, and the last one to brag about himself or his music.
When I first met Bob in 1958, I remember that I liked him immediately. After knowing him a short time, it seemed like I had known him forever. We had a great rapport right away. He was my very best friend. He was the brother that I never had. Although he didn’t finish school, he was very smart. What he lacked in knowledge or talent, he made up 1000 times in perseverance. If he started something, he finished it – a musician, a pilot, a recording engineer and much more.
I remember so many good laughs we had together, laughing so hard we had tears! He really had a wonderful sense of humor. Just like me, he loved a good joke or comedian. We had good times and tough times together, for 51 years. And believe it or not, in all those 51 years, we never, ever had an argument. Never!
It’s too bad not enough people understand the contribution that Bob created in the world of music. You have touched so many lives, and will be missed by all. The guitar may be silenced, but your reverb and echo will live on forever, for up-and-coming guitar players into generations, year after year after year.
You will never be forgotten. I couldn’t begin to tell you how much I will miss you, every day. Your battle is over. God bless you, Bob Bogle. Rest in peace, my friend.
As we left the chapel, the heavens opened and it poured with rain. Bob always loved rain – perhaps the heavens were crying for him.