Robert Steven Sheets died March 22 at his Ventura home. He was 54.
Sheets was born on March 22, 1957 in Wurzburg, Germany while his father was serving there in the United States Army. He was the son of Robert P. Sheets and the late Mary L. Sheets of Point Dume, Malibu.
Sheets attended Juan Cabrillo and Point Dume elementary schools and Malibu Park Junior High School. He was active in local Boy Scout troop 224, from which he earned his Eagle rank. Sheets graduated from Santa Monica High School, where he was involved in the band, being elected president his senior year. After high school, Sheets attended Santa Monica City College and the University of California Los Angeles.
At a young age, Sheets became interested in archeology, which became his life’s work. Sheets traveled throughout California, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming for more than 30 years pursuing his archeological interests. He studied mammoth kills, coastal villages, Spanish Colonial adobes and Gold Rush era general stores. He also worked as the laboratory director at Santa Barbara Presidio State Historic Park for 23 years.
“Bob worked for many consulting firms over the years and made many good friends in the profession,” Mike Imwalle, Sheets’ friend and colleague, said. “He will be sadly missed by his peers.”
Sheets is survived by his wife Katya, his father Robert, his sisters Cathy and Carolyn, and his nieces Anna and Adriana Martinez.
A memorial service will take place Mary 15 at the Santa Barbara Presidio, 123 East Canon Perdido St., in Santa Barbara, at 3 p.m.