Robert Eugene Lobdell

Robert Eugene Lobdell was born to Lawrence and Alice Lobdell in Sandwich, Illinois on July 5, 1929, and passed into the presence of our Lord on September 13, 2013. He was a faithful husband, and a loving father, grandfather and great grandfather.

After graduating from high school he chose to enlist in the US Navy, and faithfully served for 20 years, traveling all over the world. While stationed in San Francisco he met the love of his life, Betty Jo Bowden. They were wed in a small church in Philadelphia on April 13, 1961. That was only the beginning of their adventures. The first months of marriage were in Longbeach, CA, and then Bob was transferred to Norfolk, VA. They were blessed with two daughters, Regina Lynne, born in Amarillo, TX, and Sharon Ranaye, born in Norfolk.

After retiring from the Navy, Bob took his family to Amarillo, Texas in 1967, where he lived in the same house for his remaining days. He took in his 3 stepsons; Jim, Kenneth and Johnny Holland, and treated them as his own sons.

Bob loved to fish, and camp. Any time he was off work long enough to do so he would take his family to the lake and fish. Many memories were made on those fishing trips; thunderstorms, swimming adventures – even jumping off an old houseboat and coming up with mud on his nose, and seeing who could catch the biggest and the most fish.

He also loved his church, and was faithful to attend every service that he could. Bob and his wife hosted many missionaries and pastors in their home for meals and for lodging as well. He could always be counted on to serve where needed right beside his wife.

He loved to joke, and to kid people – in general, he loved to give people a hard time. One year as he left Wisconsin from the annual family vacation, he realized that he had been sitting on something. After a couple of hours, he stopped and discovered he had been sitting on a rock that his Pop had put under his seat cushion. The following year, he took it back, and left it under his Pop’s seat cushion. That rock was passed back and forth for several years. Bob also enjoyed giving waitresses a hard time – often ordering a Whopper from McDonald's, or a Big Mac from Burger King.

Bob was a family man, and would do anything for his family. He loved playing games with his family, and gave nicknames to many of his grandchildren. He loved them all, and enjoyed giving them all a hard time.

He also enjoyed playing games no matter how late it got. Almost every week someone would be at the house and they would play games ranging from dominos to cards to board games. There would be talking and laughter, and anything but silence in the house.

When he was only 49 he broke his back in an accident at work. But, he never let that stop him from doing things. He visited Ranaye in Germany, Regina in Costa Rica, and traveled all over the United States, often in a travel trailer. He loved traveling and seeing new things.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Alice Lobdell, 2 sisters Marge Crescioli, and Betty Sweat, a stepson, Jim Holland, and 1 grandson, David Mejia. He is survived by his wife, Betty Lobdell, 2 daughters: Regina Mejia of Canyon, and Ranaye Verdu of Colorado Springs, CO, 2 stepsons: Kenneth Holland of Dumas, and Johnny Holland of Mobile, AL, 15 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

Although he will be missed, we can be assured by God’s promise that He is safe and secure in His arms today.