Walter Robert Laidlaw

Walter Robert (Bob) Laidlaw left his mortal life on November 24, 2024. Bob, as he preferred to be called , was the son of Walter Laidlaw from Orange City, New Jersey and Grace Barton of Mt. Pleasant Utah. They built a home in the early 1920’s on Elizabeth Street in Monterey Park California. Bob was the third of four brothers and was born in his parents’ home on the 6th of April 1931. He learned the importance of work and earning his own money. He delivered newspapers on his bicycle at 4:30 am to homes in Alhambra. On weekends he and his brothers sold weekly magazines for a modest profit, but it was money. In the summers he and his brothers would set bowling pins by hand for the patrons at the Alhambra bowling alley. Bob saved his money and purchased a Whizzer bicycle engine kit. Soon he could deliver more papers, earn and save more money.

At the age of 14 Bob purchased his first motorcycle – a 750 cc Indian Scout. He knew his mother wouldn’t approve so he hid it at his friend’s house part way downthe block. His cover was blown a few days later when his mother saw him riding it while commuting in the family car. She knew that any attempt to keep him off it would be a wasted effort. A couple of years later another love affair began to evolve. Her name was Frances Palmer from Arizona. They began dating every summer at the age of 16 when Frances visited her sister in South San Gabriel. Things evolved and their relationship became rather serious after high school. Frances attended BYU university that fall, and Bob knew it was time to make his move. He borrowed a car and drove to Thatcher Arizona during Christmas break. Bob proposed and Frances said yes. Frances’s mother Eliza wasn’t that keen on Bob at first. He didn’t own a car, he rode motorcycles and lived in Calif. He did have a ring however, and her daughter, Rachel, knew Bob’s mother and family and assured her that Bob was OK. So she gave her consent. They were married one month later in the Mesa Arizona LDS temple. They moved in with Bob’s brother, Malcolm, in Alhambra, California. About a year later he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Germany for an 18 month tour. When Bob returned from military service, he worked again for the local Harley Davidson dealership and they soon had the money for a down payment on a home.

They began raising their 4 children, Jarold, Franceen, Brent, and Laurie. They moved two more times and eventually ended up in Arcadia California.

In 1962 Bob was called to serve as the Bishop of their Monterey Park LDS church congregation. They never really got used to a Bishop speeding away in his suit on a Harley.

In 1963 Bob built a new Harley-Davidson dealership building in Rosemead, California. He became the number one volume Harley Davidson dealer for new motorcycle sales in the world two years in a row 1971-72. Eventually the business outgrew that building and he built another building in 2002 located in Baldwin Park where it is today.

He told me on one occasion ..“ I have probably forgotten more about Harleys than most people will ever know.” Bob loved talking to customers greeting them at the door and having his sons and grandsons involved in the family Dealership. He shared his time unselfishly and gave service to others and was always friendly to those around him. Those who knew him will most certainly agree that the world was a better place with Bob Laidlaw in it.