Bobby J Stigler

BJ Stigler was born in Tolar, Texas on February 26, 1929 to Floyd Madison Stigler and Pauline Inez Green Stigler. When he was 2 weeks old, the family moved to Stephenville, Texas. He graduated from Stephenville High School in 1946 and from John Tarleton Junior College in 1948. In 1950, he received his BA from Texas Christian University where he played drums in the Horned Frog band. BJ earned his MEd at North Texas State University and completed 66 additional graduate hours in special education from Texas Women’s University. BJ began his 42-year career in education in the fall of 1950 teaching 8th grade. In 1951, he met and married Katie Beth Vinson, and they shared 73 happy years together. BJ served in the Air Force in during the Korean War then worked 3 years as principal of Adams Elementary in Cleburne. He moved to Birdville School District in 1956 where he taught 6th grade and was assistant principal at Browning Heights Elementary. The next year, BJ accepted the job of principal at Richland Elementary where he served for 10 years. In 1966, he opened Holiday Heights Elementary and was principal for 3 years. During the summers, BJ taught swimming lessons in his backyard pool in North Richland Hills. In 1972, BJ was hired by the Texas Education Agency in Austin as a Special Education Consultant and spent a year traveling to schools in south Texas, assisting and advising Special Education programs. He then returned to Birdville School District where he served 20 years as Director of Special Services until his retirement in 1993. BJ received numerous awards and honors during his lifetime. He was a recipient of the Eagle Scout Award and honored with lifetime state and national PTA memberships. BJ was a member of a number of professional organizations and played the drums with the Fort Worth Moslah Shrine Band and the Lion’s Club Band. He also enjoyed playing in a band with a group of his fellow educators, performing for various events in the Birdville school district. BJ and Katie were longtime members of Davis Memorial Methodist Church in North Richland Hills where Katie was organist. In their later years, they attended City Point United Methodist Church, also in North Richland Hills. After retirement, BJ and Katie travelled extensively throughout Europe and the Caribbean and took pleasure in spending time in their beachfront condominium in Port Aransas with their children and grandchildren. BJ is survived by his daughter Kathryn Johnson and her husband Randy Johnson of Haslet, daughter Debra Fernandez of Northlake, 5 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. BJ was preceded in death by his wife Katie Beth Stigler and son David Duncan Stigler.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral and Memorial Park in Colleyville, TX.