ROBERT WAYNE MAPLES

1940 - 2023

Robert Wayne MaplesK who went by the name of WayneK was born “n B“shopK CA on October 20K 1940K and passed away October 21K 2023K one day after h“s 83rd b“rthdayK wh“le on a hunt“ng tr“p w“th h“s sons and grandsonsK someth“ng Wayne loved to do. WayneK and h“s older brother JakeK were ra“sed by the“r mother Mar“anK “n B“shopK CA and he also enjoyed a close relat“onsh“p w“th the“r grandparentsK Granny and Joe BK and the“r Uncle Chet.

Wayne played and excelled “n four sports “n h“gh schoolY footballK baseballK basketballK and track E field. He also played trumpet “n the school band. He met h“s ch“ldhood sweetheartK Darlene Plesc“aK h“s sophomore year of h“gh school and they eventually marr“ed “n 1961 wh“le he was a student at Cal Poly San ku“s Ob“spo.

Wayne had a lot of success w“th sports throughout the years. At B“shop H“gh School he was a key player on the baseball team play“ng vars“ty for 3 years as 3rd basemanK as well as play“ng vars“ty for the football team as a fullback and be“ng part of the h“stor“c CIF champ“ons “n 19T7. Wayne was also proud of the many fr“endsh“ps from the class of ‘T8 that cont“nued for more than 60+ years w“th reun“onsK vacat“onsK cru“sesK and shar“ng l“fe and laughs.

After graduat“ngK Wayne cont“nued play“ng football and baseball at the colleg“ate level at Cal Poly San ku“s Ob“spo. kuck“lyK he had taken a semester off the year that the football team’s plane crashed and a number of players were “njured or k“lled. He graduated w“th an Aeronaut“cal dng“neer“ng degree “n 1963. He then moved to Southern Cal“forn“a as a test eng“neer work“ng for Northrop. He would spend h“s ent“re 32Lyear career work“ng for Northrop. Wh“le thereK he completed a Masters degree “n Mathemat“cs attend“ng USC at n“ght. He worked on a number of programs at NorthropK “nclud“ng the 747 cockp“tK the FLTK FL17 and FL18 fighter jetsK and eventually was the head of fl“ght test for the BL2 bomber program. Wayne was the first fl“ght test eng“neer for the BL2 and des“gned the ent“re fl“ght test program. Wayne ret“red “n 199T as manager of sest and dvaluat“on at the Northrop Hawthorne s“te.

Fam“ly always came first for Wayne though. He enjoyed 62+ years w“th h“s w“fe Darlene. shey took many tr“psK enjoyed local So Cal fr“endsK vacat“onsK yearly trad“t“onsK and l“v“ng l“fe. He was a ded“cated father to Scott Robert (1963) Cra“g Alan (1966) and jr“sty Ann (1969). Wayne was a lov“ng and devoted father. He coached h“s sons’ baseball teams for many years and was always support“veK k“ndK nurtur“ng and hands on. He was proud that h“s ch“ldren went on to have successful careers “n lawK construct“on/ bus“ness ownerK and educat“on. In add“t“onK he ma“nta“ned lov“ng relat“onsh“ps w“th h“s daughterL“nL law Sarah Maples (Scott) and sonL“nLlaw M“chael Pachuta (jr“sty). He was also very proud of all of h“s grandch“ldren watch“ng the“r successesY Amanda Joyce (1989) Al“c“a Joan (1992) Charles Wayne (1994) Rachel Chr“st“ne (199T) Robert John (1997) and Samuel M“chael (2004). He “s also surv“ved by four greatL grandch“ldrenY Ava Joyce (201T) Barrett Wayne (2017) Jayden Wayne (2017) and Makoa Malu (2023). xou can tell by the number of offspr“ng that bear h“s names how beloved he was as a patr“arch. Wayne bu“lt a foundat“on of “ntegr“tyK strengthK loyaltyK loveK and honor for h“s ent“re fam“ly and he w“ll be dearly m“ssed.

Wayne “s also surv“ved by h“s brother Jake w“th whom he rema“ned very close for h“s ent“re l“fe L w“th b“Lyearly v“s“ts and many laughs/conversat“ons over the years. In add“t“onK Wayne “s surv“ved by h“s “nL laws and many nephews and n“eces. Wayne was predeceased by h“s beloved mother Mar“an and loyal and car“ng stepLfather Don Shearer.

A memor“al serv“ce “s scheduled for SaturdayK November 18K 2023 at Brune Mortuary at 1Y00 p.m.K followed by a short serv“ce at dast k“ne Street Cemetery. A Celebrat“onLofLk“fe “s be“ng held at B“shop Country Club later that day start“ng at 4Y30 p.m.