Robert Eugene Brinkley

Robert Eugene (Bob) Brinkley, 79, passed away on December 15, 2009, from complications of a subdural hematoma. Bob was born August 22, 1930, in Huntsville, Texas, the second child of William Marshall and Jewel Rose Brinkley. In 1933 the family moved to Jacksonville, Texas, where he graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1947. A Korean War veteran, he served from 1947-1951 in the First Recon Battalion, United States Marine Corps. Although Bob rarely talked about his Korean War experiences, he told his longtime friend Charlie Burton, a Navy veteran of the Korean War, of a time in 1949 where his battalion had been sent in to fight against a North Korean invasion of South Korea and, when the Chinese invaded with overwhelming force and overran the area, his Marine battalion remained at the front and ensured that every Marine – living or dead, including the wounded – was brought home. Bob took courses in agronomy at Texas A&M University and in American history at the University of Texas at Austin. Bob was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, and the First United Methodist Church in Austin. During his life, Bob worked at the U.S. Post Office, the Texas Game and Fish Commission, and as a manager at the Texas State Treasury. For a time, he was also the owner and builder of the Custom Homes Company in Bastrop, Texas. On January 29, 1953, Bob married Phyllis Maurine Rand, and they were married for 56 years. Bob and Phyllis lived all of their adult life in Austin, Texas. They enjoyed the atmosphere of church life, nature, education, friends, and home life. Bob and Phyllis enjoyed canoeing and camping out in Texas, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Alaska, and Canada. Bob believed in exercise and worked out regularly most of his married life, for many years at Belmont Hall at the University of Texas at Austin. He loved nature and the out-of-doors. Swimming at Barton Springs was the love of his life, and he was active in the Save Barton Creek Association. He was an avid reader, especially of history. He served as a precinct volunteer for the Democratic Party and went to county conventions. He was a longtime Texas Longhorn fan and went to the games with Phyllis. He was an intelligent, practical, determined, generous, caring man, and he loved birds and animals. Bob was celebrated by three awards from the Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas for his 15, 20, and 25-gallon accomplishments as a blood donor and then honored nationally by the American Association of Blood Banks for his tremendous commitment to helping others through the gift of blood. These donations may have saved the lives of over 400 individuals according to the BTC. Bob was preceded in death by his father and mother, William Marshall Brinkley and Jewel Rose Brinkley, and by his older brother, Willie Dean Brinkley. He is survived by his loving wife, Phyllis Brinkley; his daughter, Deborah Gail Brinkley; his sister-in-law, Billie Ruth Brinkley; and numerous nieces and nephews: Kay Hutton (and husband Kenny); Sherri Jackson (and husband Terry); Steve Brinkley (and wife Deanna); David Brinkley; and Melanie Self (and husband Carl). The family wishes to give heartfelt and sincere thanks to Dr. Herb Singh, Dr. Sheldon Markowitz, Dr. Stephen Dewan, Dr. Jonathan Sheinberg, and Dr. Hari Tumu, and to express their deepest gratitude to all of the doctors, volunteers, and caregivers at Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas, and the emergency services people who took such good care of our husband and father. Also we would like to thank his friends from Westminster Manor for their caring visits. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send a donation to the Save Barton Creek Association, P.O. Box 5923, Austin, TX, 78763, or to a charity of your choice.