Robert “Bob” H. Best, 97, former Cosmopolis resident and former owner of Best’s Heating and Air Conditioning, died March 1, 2025, in Kirkland, Washington.

Bob was born on Feb. 9, 1928, in Montesano, Washington to Howard Earl and Viola E. (Johnson) Best. He was raised amongst his family in Washington and Oregon. He attended schools in Montesano and worked on farms in the area. He got his driver’s license when he was 15. He then worked at Montesano Texaco Station and at Far West Frosted Foods in Aberdeen as an ice puller. When WW II broke out, Bob joined the U.S. Navy. He returned to the Harbor following his service and worked for various logging companies up the Wynooche Valley driving logging trucks. He then went to work at Aberdeen Plywood in the boiler plant working the graveyard shift.

On Feb. 18, 1950, Bob married Jessie “Judy” Goins in the Methodist Church in Aberdeen. She passed away on July 15, 2022, in Duvall, Washington.

In the ’60s, Bob started Best’s Heating and Air Conditioning. He operated his business with his wife Judy until his retirement in 1998. He then worked part-time for Fern Hill Funeral Home, helping with services until he turned 83.

Bob was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Hoquiam and when they decided to build a new church, Bob volunteered to be Project Manager. He was also a member of Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Elma and a lifetime member of Gideon’s International. Bob also liked to do woodworking in his garage and when he and Judy moved to Carnation to be near family, his cottage had a woodshop in the basement.

Bob is survived by his son, Scott (Nancy) Best of Seattle; daughters: Rebecca (Chris) Renzelman of Renton, Washington and Jeanine (Rory) Briscoe of Carnation, Washington; half brother, John Hill of Centralia, Washington; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by a son Jerry Best in 1966.

There will be a celebration of Bob’s life on Saturday, April 26, at 1 p.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church, Hoquiam, Washington.

Please take a moment to share your memories or notes of condolence for the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Washington.