Robert Francis Clarke

Robert Francis Clarke (Bob) passed from this life on to his eternal home on July 6, 2017 in Frisco, Texas. Bob was born on November 5, 1941 in El Paso, TX to Robert and Ethel Clarke. He was the second of two children, blessed with an older sister, Janice. Bob grew up in El Paso and then in Hialeah, FL. He and Janice would swim from one side of the lake to the other every chance they got. Given his father’s name of Robert, Bob was also call Bobby when he was a youngster.

Family and friends recall Bob as being industrious, diligent, generous, clever, intelligent, very competitive and a patient father. He learned the value of hard work as a young man as he worked various jobs starting at home pulling weeds where he earned a penny for each basket he filled up with weeds. Bob quickly figured out that if he started by placing a tumbleweed in first and then covering it with weeds, he could fill up the basket much faster than anyone else. This was a characteristic of ingenuity that would carry him very far in his business career. As a terrific example, Bob’s favorite saying was “Tough times aren’t too tough if you don’t owe anybody any money”.

Bob attended and graduated from North Dallas High School in 1958. His keen sense of business coupled with his endless desire to succeed, he became and served as a business owner for over 31 years in the air conditioning related chemical industry. When he wasn’t working, Bob, as a private pilot, loved flying planes where he earned his instrument and multi-engine ratings. He also enjoyed boating especially around the Florida waters. His favorite music artists included Carol Sager, Sarah Brightman, Jackie Evancho and Charlotte Church.

Bob married his sweetheart, Kathyrn Lynn Courtney in Dallas, TX. Bob brought two daughters and a son to this wonderful family along with Kathyrn adding her son to this group.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Henry Clarke and Ethel Irene Kitterman. His legacy will live on through his wife, Kathyrn Lynn Clarke of Prosper, TX; his children, Edwina Dorraine and her husband Thomas Trusty of Irving, TX; Kimberly Joyce Clarke of The Colony, TX; Robert H. II and his wife Cynthia Ann Clarke of Lewisville, TX; Dr. Dennis Paul and his wife, Dr. Jeanne Michelle Lovett; and through his grandchildren: Robert Joseph Clarke, Shelby Faye Clarke, Paul Brian Lovett, Sara Michelle Lovett.

Bob was loved while he was here with us on earth, and he will continue to be loved through time and all eternity.