NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Robert Morton Tone, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Oct. 17, 1914, passed peacefully in his sleep Dec. 11, 2015, at the Veteran's Hospital at Ft. Miley in San Francisco.

Bob moved to San Francisco as a young boy and attended the city schools, graduating from San Francisco Polytechnic High School in 1933.

During high school he joined R.O.T.C. and rose to the rank of major, often leading parades in the San Francisco area.

He enlisted in the Navy at the beginning of World War II and because of his R.O.T.C. training and his study of navigation, he was elected to skip boot camp and entered as a 2nd Class Petty Officer Quartermaster.

The Navy needed him to work the large tug boats in San Francisco Bay.  After a year he transferred to the U.S. Picking, a destroyer, and participated in many battles including the invasion of Iwo Jima.

After his service, he became a commercial artist, working for the American Can Co. and the Mobil Oil Co. He eventually retired and moved to Lake County in the year 2000.

Bob resided at the Lakeview Housing Apartments before he moved to the Veterans Hospital in 2014, where he had wonderful care 24/7.

Bob led an exciting life. He owned a bar in Santa Monica for a while and also owned a race horse that won some races at the Hollywood Park race track.

When he was 90 years old and still looking for adventure he bought a 23-foot cabin cruiser which he kept moored at Braito's Marina. Until he was 96 he took his friends out on the lake sightseeing and then he gave his boat to a friend.

He drove his car until he was 99 and often said his years in Lakeport were some of the best years of his life.

He was a member of the American Legion Post 194 in Kelseyville, an accomplished artist working with acrylics painting nautical scenes.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Froude and Ruth Tone; and siblings, Gene Tone, James Tone and Betty Margaret Tone.

He is survived by his son, Stephan (Laurie) Tone; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be a military graveside service on Jan. 5, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Hartley Cemetery, 2552 Hill Road East, Lakeport.

If further information is needed, contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .