Robert “Bob” G. Mueller of Umatilla, Oregon, passed away on October 14, 2026, at the age of 88.
He was boorn July 25, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Riverside, California.
Bob had a passion for agriculture that he carried throughout his life. He began his career with the Tennessee Valley Authority, where he worked in agricultural development and traveled extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest and internationally.
The experiences and relationships he gained along the way eventually led him to Eastern Oregon, where he found both a home and a community, settling in Umatilla in 1974 and becoming a familiar and respected figure in the region’s agricultural community.
In 1989, he founded Rivercrest Farms. He also dedicated countless hours to serving on the Columbia Improvement District (CID), Western Extension Irrigation district, local school boards, and numerous agricultural and community boards. Throughout his career, he was not only known for his expertise and vision but also for his willingness to mentor others and strengthen the communities he served.
Away from work, Bob embraced life with a sense of adventure and loved hunting, fishing, boating, scuba diving, and traveling, and he never turned down an opportunity to spend time outdoors with family and friends.
Whether sharing stories over a good gin and tonic, serving on community through CID, Western Ext. Irrigon District, school and agricultural boards, or working on his latest project, Bob was a life force.
Bob married Linda D. Chaplin in Kent, Washington on July 5, 1966. Together they shared 60 years of marriage, raising a family, traveling, building lifelong friendships, and creating countless memories together.
Above all, Bob was devoted to his family and was immensely proud of the life they built together. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda; son, Lance (wife Amy); daughters, Lisa (husband Chris) and Kim; granddaughters Emma (husband Alan), Leah, and Claire; and his sister, Virginia.
Bob will be remembered for his intelligence, generosity, sense of humor, adventurous spirit, and dedication to family, friends, and community. His legacy lives on in the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the land he cared for.
Bob will be deeply missed and remembered by friends and family, and a Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
Please share memories of Bob with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
