Robert Petrey, known to all as Bob, passed on September 10, 2018 in Houston, Texas.
Bob has chosen to be cremated. A memorial service with military honors will be held at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet St, Bellaire, TX 77401, on November 23, 2018 at noon. The service will be conducted by Reverend Bill Cole. A potluck will be held on Thanksgiving Day at a nearby family home and all are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a small donation to Star of Hope Mission of Houston. https://www.sohmission.org/ways-to-give/
Bob was born in Stanford, Kentucky to James Herman Petrey and Frankie Jane Lawson. He was raised by his beloved aunt Lula until he was 17 years old and enlisted in the Air Force. During his 26 years of service, Bob was stationed all over the world, including: Germany, England, The Philippines, Alaska, and many other locations around the United States. Bob met his wife, Shirley, while stationed in Cut Bank, Montana; they were married in 1956. They soon started a family together. Bob continued to serve in the United States Air Force until 1977, when he honorably retired as a Senior Master Sergeant with many accommodations, including: the Meritorious Service Medal, Longevity Service Award, Good Conduct Medal, and Outstanding Unit Award.
Bob is survived by his wife, of 62 years, Shirley and his five daughters and their spouses: Leona and Joe Fortner of Houston, Texas; Charlotte Petrey and Lisa Shore of Houston, Texas; Donna and Steve Johnson of Clearwater, Kansas; Dorothy Petrey of Omaha, Nebraska; Erika Petrey of Springfield, Missouri; as well as eight adoring grandchildren, six loving great-grandchildren, and four caring nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Dettie Mae Smock of Stanford, Kentucky; his brother Curtis Petrey of Oberlin, Ohio; and his sister-in-law Ruth Petrey of Wakeman, Ohio.
He joins in rest his father James Herman Petrey and mother Frankie Jane Lawson of Stanford, Kentucky; his aunt Lula Harris, of Stanford, Kentucky; his brother Wallace Petrey, of Wakeman, Ohio; and son Robert Herbert Petrey Jr., of Clearwater, Kansas.
Bob’s hobbies included home improvement projects, flirting with waitresses, and organizing his garage. He instilled many of his positive values in his children, including the meticulous organization and the importance of respecting your belongings. He never missed an opportunity to take care of his family and friends; whether it was getting them a car wash or taking them to stock up on toilet paper. Bob enjoyed watching westerns, comedies, Keeping Up Appearances, and Steve Martin movies. A few of his favorite films were Shane and Shrek. He loved a good Tejano tune, classical music, country-western and bluegrass music, and high-energy Riverdance. He handled the household grocery shopping, Christmas shopping and gift wrapping, and was always very supportive of Shirley’s Scrabble habit. Bob was a very patriotic man.
Bob had a few well-known catch phrases. His kids remember his encouraging words when they’d tell him about a new job or project they were excited about, he’d say “That’s real nice, kid.” Since his stroke in the late 1980’s, he had a hard time remembering everyone’s names, and since the family is very large, he was known to end a conversation with: “say hi to what’s-his-name for me”, and he meant it. During
phone conversations, if you asked what he was up to, he’d most likely reply with: “I’m just sitting on the back porch with a cup of coffee and a cigar, and stuff like that.”
If you knew Bob well enough to ask him about his military service or family history, he would sit down with you, tell stories, and show photos of his upbringing and adventures around the world in the service. He could be a quiet and private man, but when he opened up to you, you could learn a lot about him. Bob will be greatly missed by his friends and family, but as he would say, “that’s the way it goes.”
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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