Robert Seelbach Loved Life Of A Meat Salesman

Independent by nature and friendly to a fault, Robert "Bar-S Bob" Seelbach loved the life of a salesman.

Bursting with stories and hauling a trunkload of samples, he drove his mustard-yellow car with the old, orange Bar-S Foods logo all over Western Washington, wholesaling every kind of meat.

He combined work and play: He barbecued with abandon at his home in Seattle or his riverfront property in Winthrop, Okanogan County, and rarely missed a chance to promote his meat business.

"He was pretty dang happy with that and thought it was quite the thing to have a company car," said his son, Brock Seelbach of Everett.

"When I was in Little League, he would drive up in his Bar-S car, fire up a Coleman stove and cook hot dogs for both teams. I don't know if the company knew about it, but he always felt it was good advertising."

Mr. Seelbach died Sunday (Sept. 12) of emphysema. He was 80.

Born in Seattle and reared in Rainier Beach, he was an active kid. He played baseball at and graduated from Cleveland High School.

He first worked for Waterfront Meats in Seattle. Then he helped butchers and drove delivery trucks for Carston's Packing.

He was a Bar-S representative for more than 20 years. He subsequently worked for John Morrell wholesale meats. He wore a freshly pressed white shirt to work every day for three decades.

"He knew his meats and was an excellent cook, never needing to use a recipe," said his second wife, Margaret Seelbach, to whom he was married 28 years.

"We hunted and fished for years together, going everywhere on our motorcycles . . . he built a camper for our truck, too, and it had every convenience. He was quite the handyman. I was always surprised at what he came up with."

Always ready to help, whether a kid in trouble or an alcoholic on the street, he was best known for his stories. Rich with details and asides, they resembled spoken novels.

"He could talk a lot, like forever," said his wife. "He included everything, including the eye color and type of shoe worn by the characters.' "

However, Mr. Seelbach's last words were short and to the point: "Tell everybody I love them."

Also surviving are his daughter, Camilla O'Leary of Des Moines; stepchildren Ed Roark, Redmond; John Roark, Kenmore; Roger Davis, Seattle; and Bill Davis, Bothell; sister, Margaret Vogel, Kent; two grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

His first wife, Grace Seelbach, died in 1965.

No services are planned. Donations may go to Seattle Fire Department/Medic One, 301 Second Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104; or to Integrated Health Services of Seattle, 820 N.W. 95th St., Seattle, WA 98117.