Bob Pinneo
Robert Ellwood Pinneo (Bob) passed away peacefully on February 2, 2021. Bob was born May 27, 1930 to Oscar and Blanche Pinneo in Chico, California. He and his older sister Margaret grew up together on the Brockman Ranch which was his mother’s family’s ranch in Susanville, California. Bob was always horseback with a rope in his hand and loved it more than anything. As a young boy, he worked for various ranches in the Lassen County area, but because he wasn’t old enough to drive, some of the cowboys would pick up him and his horse so he could help move cows, brand, and anything else that needed done.
As a teenager, he began competing at rodeos in saddle bronc, team roping, and calf roping events. Bob loved saddle bronc riding, but loved team roping even more, so he quit riding bucking horses and focused on his roping. In 1948, at the age of 18, Bob joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and became a lifetime Gold Card Member.
On March 29, 1950, Bob married the love of his life, Garnie Long. In 1952, Bob left for basic training at Fort Ord, serving in the Korean war. Of course Bob took a rope with him to war and he taught some of the friendly Koreans how to rope in exchange for laundry services.
After returning from Korea, Bob continued to rodeo professionally. He was very successful at the timed event end of the arena, and in 1965, Bob qualified for the National Finals Rodeo.
After years of rodeoing professionally and many long nights at the wheel, Bob decided he was getting to the point in his life where he couldn’t travel as much to be competitive in the PRCA. The National Senior Pro Rodeo Association had started up, and Bob joined in 1987 and began roping with Harlan Brown soon after that. In 1991, Bob and Harlan were the reserve champion team ropers for the 60+ age group and were named champions the following year in 1992.
Bob and his son Rob spent many years traveling and roping together, and eventually, Rob started calling him “Pops” and that name stuck with him for the rest of his years. Most people actually lovingly knew and referred to him as Pops instead of Bob.
Although it’s a long one, Bob’s list of accomplishments is not limited to the arena. In addition to being a great cowboy, Bob was a wonderful family man. Bob and Garnie were married almost 71 years and have lived in Litchfield, California for the last 63 years. They have three children - Ronda Mallery, Ginger Fitzgerald and Rob Pinneo. Bob also has six grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.
Bob was a smart, humorous, kind, and hard-working man. He was a jokester and absolutely loved to tease people – but only if he liked you. If you were on the receiving end of some of Bob’s teasing, rest assured that he respected and cared for you.
Bob is deeply missed by all of us who loved him, but we will make it our mission to talk about him often, carry on his legacy, and remember all of the lessons he taught us. We know he is turning steers on his best horse, Clyde, and enjoying greener pastures without pain, and one day, we will get to see his smile once again.