Robert L. Hasty; Fillmore Church Deacon

Robert L. Hasty, who served as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Fillmore for more than 20 years, died Friday from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. He was 63.

Hasty, a Fillmore resident, was born April 20, 1934, in Colorado Springs, Colo. When he was 8, he moved with his family to the Limoneira Ranch in Santa Paula. He graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1953, where he was a member of the boy’s gymnastics team.

After high school, Hasty worked in the oil fields, then decided to try his hand at running his own business. In 1963, he opened Bob’s Radiator Shop in Fillmore, which he operated until the effects of Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative nerve disorder, made it impossible for him to continue. He turned over running of the shop to his son-in-law, Craig Cole.

Family members described Hasty as a religious man devoted to his faith and his church.

“He was the most caring person you would ever hope to meet,” said his daughter, Lynn Cole of Fillmore. “He would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it.”

He loved bowling and on many weeknights could be found at the now-demolished Santa Paula Lanes, competing in one of his bowling leagues.

“He loved to go camping, too. In fact, our last trip was on Labor Day, before he became too ill to go,” Lynn Cole said. “There was always a group--family and friends would get together and we’d go to the lake to go water-skiing. He didn’t water ski, but loved sitting by the lake, watching his grandchildren playing.”

In addition to his daughter, Hasty is survived by his wife of 41 years, Evelyn; daughter Robbie Tieman of Somis; four grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held today at 11 a.m. at Santa Paula Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula.