Robert “Bob” Leon Wormley, beloved husband, father, businessman, and fisherman, left this earth on April 25, 2010. He was 82. Robert was born on Aug. 4, 1927, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Emma and William A. Wormley. Even from the time he was young, Robert was a driven young man, determined to make his family proud by making something of himself. In 1948, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in architecture and business management. He went on to work as a porter on the North Pacific Railway and as a warehouse packager at Pillsbury. In the winter, he also started his own snow-plow business. After moving to Texas in 1954, Robert started his own real estate and insurance agency, which would later be known as Wormley Mitchell and Associates. His work would soon lead him to grow more involved in politics, not only on a local and state level, but a national level as well. He worked tirelessly registering people to vote. He organized ride service for the elderly to vote on Election Day. And prodded friends, family members, neighbors and associates to do their civic duty and vote. In Austin he worked for the office of the governor under Governors Preston Smith and John Connally. He also worked with Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Congressman Jake Pickle, and Judge Richard Scott’s campaigns and community projects. Often you would find Robert working closely with his dear friend Bob Bullock. In the process, he shattered racial barriers, becoming the first black member of the Society of Certified Insurance Collectors, the first black member of the Austin Association of Independent Insurance Agents and a charter member of the Austin NAACP. Robert was also an active member of the Rotary Club, a Boy Scout’s scout master and on the board of directors of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
His greatest accomplishment, however, was the family he created with his wife, Trudy, the love of his life. Robert met Gertrude “Trudy” Collins in Minnesota in 1948 and married her the next year, saying it was love at first sight and that he just knew he had found the one he was going to be with the rest of his life. For the next 60-plus years, they would live a life of devotion and unwavering dedication, serving as each other's rock and motivation through all of life's ups and downs.
Their happiness was intensified with the births of their four children: Renée Elaine Wormley (Renee Mitchell) ; Jeanene Michelle Wormley (Jeanene Williams); Rodney Lon Wormley, and Terri LaRance Wormley (Terri Wormley-Smith). The family grew even more with the additions of beloved spouses Eric Mitchell, Joe Williams and Gail Wormley.
Robert always loved to travel and was eager to share his stories and knowledge with his grandchildren, great grandchildren or anyone who would listen. If you needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to encourage you to stand your ground, someone to help you get your start, someone to give you sound advice or just someone to sit down and chat with, he was your guy.
If you lived in South Austin you would see Bob Wormley on his early morning three mile walk with his dog. One of his friends commented that when Bob started walking the dog it was a Great Dane and he has walked it down to the size of a Chihuahua. His walk normally lasted an hour, but if he saw one of his friends, it could last three hours discussing politics, construction, growth or one of his trips to Alaska. He loved working with his hands and could frequently be found in his garage workroom or on bright, sunny weekends, in Bayside, Texas -- often with his sons, Rodney and Eric, and grandchildren -- fishing the days away. Always handy around a power tool, Robert was no stranger to hard work. In fact, his motto was, "Never stop working. You get old when you stop working." So when he wasn't traveling Texas selling insurance, he was helping someone in the family fix a leaky sink or out in Bayside fixing up the house. A man of God, Robert was also an important member of his church, St. Albans’ Episcopal, where he was loved by his congregation. He tried to live his life the best he could and help those who he could, both in his immediate community and throughout the city of Austin. He was proceeded in death by his mother, Emma Evelena Wormley, father, William Alfred Wormley, and sisters Marjorie Curry and Myrtle Royster. He leaves behind 4 children, 12 grandchildren [Deric Williams (Eleanor),Crystal Morehouse (Percy), Brittney Mitchell, Eric Mitchell Jr., Monique Hartley, Melissa Keys, Samiqua Clark, Christian Clark, Sherée Wormley, Kevery Knox Wormley, Ryan Wormley (Kimberly), McKenzey Wormley-Smith], 15 great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews. Robert's favorite vacation destination was Alaska, where he and Trudy traveled several times. He always dreamed and planned on going back to Alaska, and we would like to think that he finally got his wish and is up there in the mountains somewhere, fishing for trout.
Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 PM Saturday, May 1, 2010, in The Cook-Walden Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Huston-Tillotson University or the United Negro College Fund. Special thanks to Regency Village Care Center for the outstanding care their wonderful staff gave our father. The family of Robert “Bob” Wormley wishes to express their appreciation for the love and support received during this time. We’d also like to thank The Rev. Margaret Waters and St. Albans Episcopal Church.
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