Robert Levene

Robert George Levene, 69, of Edmond, OK left his cancer-ridden body for his heavenly home on August 12, 2014 at 11:11 a.m. from Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City. Bob was born on one of the easiest dates to remember in history - January, 23, 1945. When asked his birthday, his response was always 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. It was almost always met with further interrogation, then a smile. He was born in Hastings, Nebraska to parents Doris Marie and Robert William Levene. He was reared in small towns in south central Nebraska and lived and worked on the family farm in northern Kansas. His family moved from Nebraska and relocated to California when he was 15 years old. He was always a hard worker, and showed an affinity for business at an early age. In one of his earliest business endeavors he convinced his cousins to collect bottles in a wagon for a portion of the deposit money. In grade school he established a network of classmates selling greeting cards and gift items, door to door, in Hastings, NE. Upon his family's arrival in California he broadened his work experience by obtaining a variety of part time jobs while attending high school, including working with a professional dog breeder and trainer, working at a Real Estate Brokers office, an Assistant Area Distribution Manager for one of the major Los Angeles morning newspapers, and held various positions in the Food Service Industry by working at local restaurants from dishwasher, busboy, waiter, bartender, assistant manager, banquet manager, and manager. Upon graduation from high school in 1963 he obtained full time employment with North American Aviation, now known as Rockwell International, in Plant Services Administration for the original Apollo and Space Station Programs. During this time he continued part time employment in the Restaurant and Food Service Industry as he commenced obtaining his formal education. He attended East Lost Angeles College and Cerritos College in Southern California. His education was interrupted, for three years, when he entered the U.S. Army as an enlisted man during the Viet Nam conflict in 1966. During his active duty military tour he was commissioned as an officer. After his active duty tour he entered the U.S. Army reserves where he served as an officer until 1983. He obtained the rank of Major. Active duty and reserve military positions held included Company Commander on four occasions, several staff positions from Battalion to Division level as a Military Police Officer, Provost Marshal, Inspector General and Logistical Officer throughout the continental United States. He was responsible for the direct administration, supervision, organization, and operational planning for hundreds to thousands of men at times during his military career. After fulfilling his Active Military duty obligation to his country he returned to Southern California to resume his education at Cerritos College and to attend California State University at Fullerton California. His education studies were concentrated in and had an emphasis on Business Administration. In 1970 he enrolled in law school and attended Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California where he graduated in 1975 with a Juris Doctorate Degree. Subsequent to his graduation from law school he continued post graduate studies in Law, Business, and Military at various institutions. While attending law school he was offered, and accepted, a position as Senior Tax Representative for the State of California in tax law enforcement and coordinated prosecution of tax violators with the State Attorney General's office and local prosecutors. In 1975 he graduated from Law School and successfully passed the California State Bar Exam. He formed a small law partnership with two other California Attorneys. He devoted his time to developing the law firm and advising small to medium sized companies in general business matters with an emphasis on Multi-Level Marketing Law. He developed the original three attorney office into a firm with over forty attorneys with five offices strategically located throughout Southern California. He served as Temporary Judge of the Orange County, Superior Court Family Law. After moving to Oklahoma in 2004 to be closer to family in the Midwest, he worked as an Office Manager and Loan Officer for Citimac Mortgage Company and at the time of his death was employed at Munding Appraisal as Office Manager. Care giving played a very important role in his later years. He cared for his mother, Doris Matheson, until her death in May, 2011. When his niece injured her hand two weeks later he became six-month-old Marshall Asche's live in "personal assistant." This on the job training allowed him to take another position as baby Matilyn Munding's, "personal assistant" when her mother returned to work in 2012. He also freelanced as a caregiver, friend and confidant for all of his grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Bob is survived by his step-son, Christopher Fritzke and his wife, Mickie; aunt, Betty Brinkley; sister, Diana Gass and her husband, Mike of Jones, OK; niece, Shelly Asche, her husband, Brad, and son, Marshall of Tulsa, OK; nephew, Michael Gass, his wife Julie and their children Alexis, Ashlynn, Abigail and Aidan of Edmond, OK; nephew, Mark Gass and his sons Chad and Toben of Jones, OK; niece, Shiela Hoffman and her daughters Hayli and Hannah of Edmond, OK; "service dog," Taco the attack Chihuahua; many cousins and a host of dear friends. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Lee Matheson; and step-daughter, Michelle Sullivan. One not to be fussed over, Bob requested no funeral and would like to be cremated and buried in Womer, KS where he had so many wonderful childhood memories with his sister Diana and Grandma Ada Rabb. In lieu of flowers or memorials Bob would have preferred that you would help someone stop smoking, assist those in need, or make a child smile. 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