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Bob graduated from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda_High_School Alameda High School ] in 1942, having served in leadership with the Sword & Shield Society (Reserve Officers Training Corp), the Swimming team, etc. While employed at While employed at H. P. Capwell’s flagship department store, The Emporium, at 20th Street and Broadway in downtown Oakland, he enlisted into the U.S. Army on 26 April 1943, and served during the Second World War.

In 1946, prior to entering [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alameda_High_School San José State College ] where he would earn his B.A. in EnglishLiterature, he attended an evening service at the Gospel Auditorium in Oakland at the request of his parents. An elder, Dr Tom Parks, stopped Bob afterwards and asked if he wouldn’t like to begin college as a Christian. Bob made a split-second affirmative decision, and together they went to the front of the auditorium where Bob gave his life to the Lord.

While at San José State, he was introduced to the Inter-Varsity [[InterVarsity Christian Fellowship ]] (IVCF) and served as chapter president for a year. It was through the IVCF that he met Clara Naomi Deffenbaugh, who had been born 15 October 1927, and raised in Santa Rosa, California, and Savannah, Georgia, and was studying education at the University of California, Berkeley. Bob and Naomi were involved with helping found Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) in 1949

After graduating from college, Bob continued to serve on staff with IVCF for three years in the Great Lakes region of Minnesota, returning home for grad studies in Literature and Education at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_State_University San Francisco State], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berkeley University of California].

In 1955, Bob and Naomi moved to Richmond where they were involved with newly planted Grace Chapel. Naomi taught grade-school for many years in various locations where they lived.

In 1960, Bob and Naomi and a few other families started Valley Church of Moraga with initial children's meetings held in the Baylis home. Bob served as a teaching and preaching elder for many years there, the church has been rebranded as [http://willowspringchurch.com/ Willow Springs Spring Church].

He was the author of six books, including ''My People'' (1995), the first general history of the Open Brethren in North America, with special regard to its impact on wider evangelicalism.  Dr. Ross McLaren reviewed the book for ''Brethren Archivists and Historians Network Review'' in 1995 which can be found [http://brethrenhistory.org/qwicsitePro2/php/docsview.php?docid=431 here]. The volume is available at Gospel Folio Press [https://www.gospelfolio.com/product/my-people-history-of-the-brethren-1820-1980s/ here].

He also authored ''The Brethren by the Bay '' in 2006, a pictorial history of the San Francisco assemblies. A review for this volume, written by Neil Summerton, is available [http://brethrenhistory.org/qwicsitePro2/php/docsview.php?docid=753 here], and the book may be obtained also at Gospel Folio Press, [https://www.gospelfolio.com/product/brethren-by-the-bay-the/ here].

He taught English at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Lomas_High_School Las Lomas High School] until the mid-1970's when he opened Logos, a Christian bookstore, as well as a tour and travel agency, on the northwest corner of Telegraph and Channing Way in Berkeley.

He also served on the early Board of Directors in the late 1970's for New College Berkeley, founded by David Gill, Earl Palmer, Ward Gasque, Don Tinder, etc.

In 1996, Bob and Naomi retired to senior apartments in Sonoma where he taught a Bible study until he was nearly 90. They were also in fellowship with [http://www.welovesonoma.com/ Sonoma Valley Community Church]. Naomi was promoted to Glory on February 7, 2016, and Bob followed her Home on April 11, 2020. They are survived by two sons and one daughter, Jonathan (Lorraine) Baylis, Kenneth (Tania) and Janet (James) Herrick, as well as nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three nephews and a niece.