From what I've read; he was frugal with his money. I do not doubt that he had a lot of cash in his house; probably some stashed in the car as well. My dad did the same thing. A wad in his wallet; then various places in the house as well as shoved in the trunk of his cars; in a place no one would think to look unless they were taking the car apart. Right before my dad passed away; he had my son & I taking apart his trunk looking for his cash but we didn't find it. I know someone of similar age to Bob; they do the same thing as my dad did.
What's the story with the military? F says he went to war but the daughters say otherwise & that he married their mom soon after breaking with F.
It's said he has a mild dementia; his Dr said no. I'd tend to blow the Dr off because I know someone his age where it's only noticeable if you speak to them daily.
What I find strange is not only that they married so quick but that F's daughter seems ok with her mom moving to another state with a man she barely knows? I also don't understand the quick marriage because most elderly that I know are not so quick to run out & get hitched due to losing public assistance.
I don't doubt that his kids found this strange & while they're legally married; I'm not sure how I feel if she's still living in the house.
I honestly hope this is a case of him just walking away. Who knows if the car that was supposedly seen was someone waiting for the SIL to leave to pick Bob up?
SBM
My father was born within a week of Bob, so for me my dad is the test case as to certain aspects of the mystery.
At Bob's age, Bob's primary doctor should have been assessing him for decreased cognitive functioning at every visit. It's easy, requires no equipment beyond a paper and pencil (if that) and each of the possible tests takes less than a minute to administer. Most doctor rotate among the tests so that the patient cannot prepare for them. My dad's doctor assesses him even though my dad continues to pass his medical licensing test each year and wins high test score at one of the medical conferences they both attend (beware of mild mannered Korean doctors; they know everything and forget nothing).
I cannot imagine Bob's doctor asserting that Bob was not cognitively impaired unless he has the proof in his patient records.
My dad carries about $20 in his wallet plus his credit cards. He prefers credit cards for the extra consumer protection. He didn't put together a considerable estate by being silly with his money and to him, cash is money that doesn't have a job. He thinks money should be busy making money.
Fontelle and Bob's daughters are in agreement that he entered the Marine Corps. They may disagree as to what he did in service; his daughters say he was a cook. It is indisputable that he was in the Marines during the Korean War. And that honourable service is honourable service, whether it is frontline troops or support troops. Without them all, the military could not function.
Bob had amassed a considerable estate, so I doubt he was worried about his SS pension or any other benefits. I think the opposite of you, that when someone gets to be in their middle 70s and early 80s, there's a lot of awareness of death. They were both widowed so they both knew first hand that it doesn't last forever.
As for Fontelle's daughter, I know I could never persuade my mama not to do something she was determined to do. The least that would happen to me would be the statement "if you don't like it, I suggest you not do it."
As for Fontelle living in the Placentia house, that makes perfect sense to me. They are legally married and she is fighting as best she can to keep Bob's case alive. She can do that better in Placentia than she can half a continent away.