Bob Watts ran the Captain Snooze store in Nowra for almost 30 years during which time he was heavily involved in the local community.

Affectionately known as Capt’n Bob, he passed away on Monday, aged 69.

Mr Watts was involved with a number of local organisations and served as president of the Nowra Chamber of Commerce for six years.

Mr Watts moved to Culburra Beach in 1980 with his young family to run the Captain Snooze store at Wollongong.

In the early 1980s he opened a Nowra Captain Snooze outlet, originally in Kinghorne Street before moving to its high-profile location in North Street.

In the early 1990s, he opened a store at Warrawong and in 2002 moved his Shoalhaven outlet to bigger premises at South Nowra.

Mr Watts sold both stores when he retired eight years ago and moved with his wife Margaret to Tura Beach near Merimbula.

Mrs Watts said he loved the Shoalhaven community and was always involved.

“He was involved in a number of fund-raising events over the years, be it for the Olympics or even the Terara Public School where our daughters attended, he was always involved.”

A private funeral will be held for Mr Watts, while his family is organising a memorial service in the Shoalhaven, for early next month.

Mr Watts is survived by his wife Margaret, their daughters and their husbands Michaela and Benjamin Lees, of Canberra and Cally and Ross Somerville, of Gippsland and grandchildren Chelsea and Samuel.